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. 2000 Nov 18;356(9243):1757-9.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03215-3.

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

J Lubsen  1 , A Hoes, D Grobbee
Affiliations

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

J Lubsen et al. Lancet. .

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 benefits 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?

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