Table 3 Discontinuations in double blind, placebo controlled trials of 3–48 months duration Significantly fewer discontinuations with finasteride than with placebo.
A. Total number of patients who discontinued | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of studies | Time point (months) | Discontinued with finasteride 5 mg | Discontinued with placebo | Relative risk (95% CI) | NNT (95% CI) | ||
| Â | Â | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Â | Â |
1 | 3 | No data | Â | Â | |||
5 | 12 | 553/4098 | 13 | 299/1764 | 17 | 0.8 (0.7 to 0.9) | 29 (18 to 71) |
4 | 24 | 467/2146 | 22 | 507/2140 | 24 | 0.9 (0.8 to 1.03) | n/c |
1 | 48 | 524/1524 | 34 | 633/1516 | 42 | 0.8 (0.7 to 0.9) | 13 (9 to 27) |
B. Discontinuations because of lack of efficacy | |||||||
Number of studies | Time point (months) | Discontinued with finasteride 5 mg | Discontinued with placebo | Relative risk (95% CI) | NNT (95% CI) | ||
| Â | Â | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Â | Â |
1 | 3 | No data | Â | Â | |||
4 | 12 | 116/3788 | 3 | 46/1459 | 3 | 0.9 (0.7 to 1.4) | n/c |
4 | 24 | 81/2146 | 4 | 107/2140 | 5 | 0.8 (0.6 to 1.0) | n/c |
1 | 48 | 99/1524 | 6 | 104/1516 | 7 | 0.9 (0.7 to 1.2) | n/c |
C. Discontinuations because of adverse effects | |||||||
Number of studies | Time point (months) | Discontinued with finasteride 5 mg | Discontinued with placebo | Relative risk (95% CI) | NNT (95% CI) | ||
| Â | Â | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Â | Â |
1 | 3 | No data | Â | Â | |||
5 | 12 | 251/4098 | 6 | 89/1764 | 5 | 1.2 (0.9 to 1.5) | n/c |
1 | 18 | No data | |||||
4 | 24 | 178/2146 | 8 | 210/2140 | 14 | 0.8 (0.7 to 1.02) | n/c |
1 | 48 | 176/1524 | 12 | 166/1516 | 11 | 1.0 (0.9 to 1.3) | n/c |