Estimating the Size of the Treatment Effect
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Users' Guide: Treatment/Prevention

  
Outcome
Event
  +-
Treated ab
Untreated cd

EER: Experimental Event Rate: a/(a+b)
CER: Control Event Rate: c/(c+d)

Absolute risk reduction: ARR= CER-EER

Relative risk: RR=EER/CER

Relative risk reduction: RRR=[(CER-EER)/CER]

Number needed to treat: NNT=1/ARR = 1/(CER-EER)

95% Confidence Interval (C.I.) on an NNT = 1/(limits on the C.I. of its ARR) =
+ or - 1/(1.96 x square root of ((CERx(1-CER)/# control pts.) / (EERx(1-EER)/# exper. pts.)))

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