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Dear Kev, Many thanks for raising an important issue; the ways results of clinical trials are reported. There is evidence to show that the way results are presented influences clinicians' decision to prescribe a drug and the funders' decision to purchase the same. Interestingly two of the three papers on this topic were published in the BMJ which also published the Ramipril trial only with RR and not NNT. Moreover even the recent CONSORT revision just mentions "For both binary and survival time data, expressing the results also as the number needed to treat for benefit (NNTB) or harm (NNTH) can be helpful”. So NNT is only optional and not binding on the authors of clinical trials. After reading your posting on the discussion list, I did a bit of search and has sent a detailed electronic response to the BMJ. If you have the time you could access my response with the references @ http://bmj.com/cgi/eletters/324/7339/699#21109 I will be interested in your and others (on the list) views on my electronic response in the BMJ. Cheers & regards, Badri Dr.P.Badrinath M.D,M.Phil,(Epid)PhD(Cantab)DFPHM(UK),MPH(Distinc) Clinical Assistant Professor & Hon Consultant in Preventive Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, UAE University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Tel: 00 971 3 7039 652 Fax: 00 971 3 7672022. http://myprofile.cos.com/badrishanthi "For an excellent review of the current medical literature, go to Journals Scan www.uaeu.ac.ae/jscan/" - BMJ 3rd June 2000, Netlines _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com