Table 5

Summary of dichotomous outcomes for sildenafil


Number of
 Percent with





Outcome
 Dose (mg)
 Trials
 Patients
 Sildenafil
 Placebo
 Relative benefit or risk (95% CI)
 NNT/NNTp/NNH (95% CI)
Efficacy
Improved erections
 25
 5
 778
 68
 27
 2.5 (2.1 to 3.0)
 2.4 (2.1 to 2.9)

50
 5
 781
 80
 27
 3.0 (2.5 to 3.5)
 1.9 (1.7 to 2.1)

100
 26
 5000
 76
 23
 3.4 (3.1 to 3.6)
 1.9 (1.8 to 2.0)

50/100
 29
 5467
 76
 23
 3.3 (3.1 to 3.5)
 1.9 (1.8 to 2.0)
Withdrawal
All-cause
 25
 3
 522
 11
 14
 0.9 (0.6 to 1.4)
 not calculated

50
 4
 560
 10
 14
 0.7 (0.4 to 1.2)
 not calculated

100
 27
 5219
 7.8
 12
 0.6 (0.5 to 0.8)
 22 (16 to 34)

50/100
 30
 5562
 8.0
 12
 0.7 (0.6 to 0.8)
 23 (17 to 37)
Lack of efficacy
 25
 3
 522
 3.0
 3.7
 0.9 (0.3 to 2.5)
 not calculated

50
 3
 526
 1.8
 3.5
 0.6 (0.2 to 1.9)
 not calculated

100
 27
 5119
 1.1
 4.5
 0.3 (0.2 to 0.4)
 24 (20 to 32)

50/100
 30
 5463
 1.2
 4.4
 0.3 (0.2 to 0.4)
 25 (21 to 34)
Adverse event
 25
 4
 777
 1.5
 1.3
 1.0 (0.4 to 3.0)
 not calculated

50
 5
 819
 1.6
 1.2
 1.7 (0.7 to 4.4)
 not calculated

100
 28
 5311
 1.4
 0.6
 1.8 (1.1 to 2.7)
 120 (66 to 520)

50/100
 31
 5787
 1.6
 0.6
 1.7 (1.1 to 2.6)
 120 (67 to 560)
Adverse events
All cause
 50/100
 18
 2852
 50
 30
 1.6 (1.5 to 1.8)
 4.9 (4.2 to 6.0)
Serious
 50/100
 17
 2591
 2.5
 2.4
 1.1 (0.6 to 1.7)
 not calculated
Headache
 50/100
 34
 6386
 17
 5.2
 3.3 (2.8 to 3.9)
 8.6 (7.6 to 10)
Dyspepsia
 50/100
 26
 4967
 7.8
 2.3
 3.3 (2.5 to 4.4)
 18 (15 to 23)
Flushing
 50/100
 33
 6363
 13
 1.9
 6.7 (5.2 to 8.7)
 9.0 (8.1 to 10)
Rhinitis
 50/100
 21
 4283
 5.4
 2.1
 2.5 (1.8 to 3.5)
 31 (23 to 47)

NNT is given in standard font, NNTp in bold, and NNH in bold italic. No NNT/NNTp/NNH was calculated unless there was a statistically significant difference

Moore et al. BMC Urology 2005 5:18   doi:10.1186/1471-2490-5-18