A medical study group is examining the efficacy of Superstatin, a novel lipid-lowering medicine that is being promoted directly to consumers as a revolutionary new therapy to prevent heart attacks. The drug's producer claims that it is more efficacious than currently available hypolipidemic medicines in the primary prevention of myocardial infarction. The following are the findings of a 5-year, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of Superstatin. Compared to the control medication, how many patients need to be treated with Superstatin to prevent one additional myocardial infarction?

Question

A medical study group is examining the efficacy of Superstatin, a novel lipid-lowering medicine that is being promoted directly to consumers as a revolutionary new therapy to prevent heart attacks. The drug's producer claims that it is more efficacious than currently available hypolipidemic medicines in the primary prevention of myocardial infarction. The following are the findings of a 5-year, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of Superstatin.  Compared to the control medication, how many patients need to be treated with Superstatin to prevent one additional myocardial infarction?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The number required to treat (NNT) is the number of patients who must be treated with a drug in order to avert a second bad result. The NNT is computed by dividing the absolute risk decrease by one (the difference between the control and experimental group event rates). Treatments with lower NNT levels are more helpful.

A Medical Study Group Is Examining the Efficacy of Superstatin