Numbers needed to treat derived from meta-analyses--sometimes informative, usually misleading

Affiliations

Review

L Smeeth et al. BMJ. 1999.

. 1999 Jun 5;318(7197):1548-51.

doi: 10.1136/bmj.318.7197.1548.

¹ Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, London NW3 2PF.

No abstract available

Comment in

Numbers needed to treat derived from meta-analysis. Are an absurdity.
Charlton BG. Charlton BG. BMJ. 1999 Oct 30;319(7218):1199. BMJ. 1999. PMID: 10541527 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
Numbers needed to treat derived from meta-analysis. Using patient years may also be misleading.
Hopayian K, McGough J. Hopayian K, et al. BMJ. 1999 Oct 30;319(7218):1199-200. BMJ. 1999. PMID: 10610154 No abstract available.
Numbers needed to treat derived from meta analysis. NNT is a tool, to be used appropriately.
Moore A, McQuay H. Moore A, et al. BMJ. 1999 Oct 30;319(7218):1200. BMJ. 1999. PMID: 10610155 No abstract available.
Numbers needed to treat derived from meta-analysis. Length of follow up is poorly reported.
D'Amico R, Deeks JJ, Altman DG. D'Amico R, et al. BMJ. 1999 Oct 30;319(7218):1200. BMJ. 1999. PMID: 10610156 No abstract available.
Do not resuscitate decisions. Cardiopulmonary resuscitations seems to be exempt from scrutiny of evidence based medicine.
Barer D. Barer D. BMJ. 2001 Jan 13;322(7278):103. BMJ. 2001. PMID: 11154633 No abstract available.

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