Table 7

Numbers needed to harm (NNH) or numbers needed to treat (NNT) and numbers of extra or prevented cases, for each outcome over 5 years in patients aged 35–74 free of cardiovascular disease at baseline with QRISK2 score of 20%+ (table reproduced from the BMJ5a)

NNH or NNT (95% CI)Estimated number of extra cases (or cases prevented) per 10000 patients treated
Potential benefits in women
Cardiovascular disease−37 (−64 to −27)−271 (−374 to −157)
Potential harms in women
Acute renal failure434 (284 to 783)23 (13 to 35)
Cataract33 (28 to 38)307 (260 to 355)
Liver dysfunction136 (109 to 175)74 (57 to 91)
Myopathy259 (186 to 375)39 (27 to 54)
Potential benefits in men
Cardiovascular disease−33 (−57 to −24)−301 (−417 to −174)
Potential harms in men
Acute renal failure346 (245 to 539)29 (19 to 41)
Cataract52 (44 to 63)191 (158 to 225)
Liver dysfunction142 (115 to 180)71 (56 to 87)
Myopathy91 (74 to 112)110 (90 to 134)
  • Note: negative numbers indicate numbers needed to treat or cases prevented and positive numbers indicate numbers needed to harm or extra cases.