BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The goal of this study was to prospectively assess outcome and cost for poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage patients presenting to a regional neurosurgical center (Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK) between 1994 and 2001. Outcome measures were clinical outcome at 6 months, number needed to treat (NNT) for favorable outcomes, and cost analysis. METHODS Poor-grade pati...

BACKGROUND To analyse available evidence on the efficacy and safety of anti-TNFalpha drugs (infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab) for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS We searched systematically for randomised controlled clinical trials on treatment of RA with anti-TNFalpha drugs, followed by a systematic review with metaanalysis. Trials were searched from MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochr...

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and tolerability of topical pimecrolimus and tacrolimus compared with other treatments for atopic dermatitis. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Electronic searches of the Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase. STUDY SELECTION Randomised controlled trials of topical pimecrolimus or tacrolimus reporting efficacy outcomes or tolerabi...

CONTEXT Despite lacking evidence for its safety and efficacy, antipsychotic cotreatment is common in schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE To evaluate therapeutic and adverse effects of antipsychotic cotreatment vs monotherapy in schizophrenia. DATA SOURCES Cochrane Schizophrenia Group register and hand searches of relevant journals/conference proceedings. STUDY SELECTION Randomized controlled trials ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM Adherence to medication that maintains remission by patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is poor but little is known regarding patients' perception of medication benefit that may enhance adherence rates. The aims were to study patients' understanding and preference on methods of conveying statistical information and to study indicated thresholds for adherence to medication f...

OBJECTIVE To consider the problem of the calculation of number needed to treat (NNT) derived from risk difference, odds ratio, and raw pooled events shown to give different results using data from a review of nursing interventions for smoking cessation. DISCUSSION A review of nursing interventions for smoking cessation from the Cochrane Library provided different values for NNT depending on h...

New studies of the treatment of neuropathic pain have increased the need for an updated review of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to support an evidence based algorithm to treat neuropathic pain conditions. Available studies were identified using a MEDLINE and EMBASE search. One hundred and five studies were included. Numbers needed to treat (NNT) and numbers needed to harm ...