Statins Given for 5 Years for Heart Disease Prevention (With Known Heart Disease) 83 for mortality In Summary, for those who took the statin for 5 years:
Benefits in NNT
1 in 83 were helped (life saved)
1 in 39 were helped (preventing non-fatal heart attack)
1 in 125 were helped (preventing stroke)
Harms in NNH
1 in 100 were harmed (develop diabetes*)
1 in 10 were harmed (muscle damage)
*The development of diabetes is one such unanticipated harm found in a recent large study and it seems likely therefore that this applies to the data above, although this is a best guess.
Aspirin to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Known Heart Disease or Strokes 333 for mortality In Summary, for those who took the aspirin:
Benefits in NNT
1 in 50 were helped (cardiovascular problem prevented)
1 in 333 were helped (prevented death)
1 in 77 were helped (prevented non-fatal heart attack)
1 in 200 were helped (prevented non-fatal stroke)
Harms in NNH
1 in 400 were harmed (major bleeding event*)
*Required hospital admission and transfusion
Blood Pressure Medicines for Five Years to Prevent Death, Heart Attacks, and Strokes 125 for mortality In Summary, for those who took anti-hypertensives:
Benefits in NNT
1 in 125 were helped (prevented death)
1 in 67 were helped (prevented stroke)
1 in 100 were helped (prevented heart attack*)
Harms in NNH
1 in 10 were harmed (medication side effects, stopping the drug)
*fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction and sudden or rapid cardiac death
Clopidogrel Added to Aspirin to Prevent a Second Heart Attack Or Stroke None for mortality In Summary, for those who took the clopidogrel:
Benefits in NNT
None were helped (cardiovascular problem prevented)
Harms in NNT
1 in 167 were harmed (major bleeding event*)
Coronary Stenting for Non-Acute Coronary Disease Compared to Medical Therapy None for mortality In Summary, for those who received the stenting:
Benefits in NNT
None were helped (life saved, heart attack prevented, symptoms reduced)
Harms in NNH
1 in 50 were harmed (complications such as bleeding, stroke, kidney damage)