Table 1

Aggregate mortality results from 13 randomised trials of steroids in head injury published before 1997


Steroid
Control

No. of patients
1,061
1,087
No. who died
396
422

(37%)
(39%)

Absolute benefit of steroids 2%, indicating 1 death prevented for every 50 patients treated: but these previous trial results are also statistically compatible with there being no real benefit at all (or even a small hazard).

The CRASH trial management group for the CRASH trial collaborators BMC Emergency Medicine 2001 1:1   doi:10.1186/1471-227X-1-1