Implications of trial results: the potentially misleading notions of number needed to treat and average duration of life gained

Authors
Lubsen, J Hoes, A Grobbee, D
Citation
J. Lubsen et al., Implications of trial results: the potentially misleading notions of number needed to treat and average duration of life gained, LANCET, 356(9243), 2000, pp. 1757-1759
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine","Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
LANCET
ISSN journal
01406736 → ACNP
Volume
356
Issue
9243
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1757 - 1759
Database
ISI
SICI code
0140-6736(20001118)356:9243<1757:IOTRTP>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
Consider a physician advising a patient to start antihypertensive treatment . He has the unenviable task of presenting often conflicting trial data in a comprehensible manner. He must justly represent the known risks and benef its such that his patient can make a reasonably informed choice. Should the physician cite the number needed to treat or the average duration of life gained to clarify his explanations?.