Comparing Medications in a Therapeutic Area Using an NNT Model

Sep 1, 2004, 00:00
10.1111/j.1524-4733.2004.75009.x
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(10)60222-7/fulltext
Title : Comparing Medications in a Therapeutic Area Using an NNT Model
Citation : https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/action/showCitFormats?pii=S1098-3015(10)60222-7&doi=10.1111/j.1524-4733.2004.75009.x
First page :
Section Title :
Open access? : No
Section Order : 6

Objectives

Clinicians are told to use the number needed to treat (NNT) to compare the benefits of therapeutic strategies, and researchers are asked to report results this way, generally without considering differences among the studies from which these were derived.

Methods

The crude NNT currently advocated is compared to the NNT standardized for a common outcome, follow-up time, study population and comparator. An NNT model for cardiovascular disease is described as an example that addresses differences among studies of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Crude NNTs are compared to those obtained from the model.

Results

Follow-up in the 18 trials identified varied from 1.0 to 6.2 years; rates of cardiovascular events in the untreated subgroups ranged from 4.8% to 45.9%. The crude NNTs were more variable (9.1–163.7) than those obtained from the model (9.1–75.2). The effect of standardization was substantial in some cases, with proportional changes ranging from a 91% decrease to a 223% increase.

Conclusion

Using an NNT model to account for differences in study design allows for more meaningful comparisons.

Categories :
  • Cardiovascular Disorders
  • Specific Diseases & Conditions
Tags :
  • cardiovascular disease
  • clinical decision making
  • number needed to treat (NNT)
Regions :
  • North America
ViH Article Tags :