Table 2

Analysis of patients with adverse events and discontinuations
Outcome/comparisons
 Number of
 Rate of events (%)
 Relative risk (95% CI)
 NNTp/NNH (95% CI)




Trials
 Patients
 Etoricoxib
 Comparator

All cause





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 17
 32
 0.6 (0.53 to 0.63)a
 6.7 (5.8 to 7.8)b
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 26
 32
 0.9 (0.80 to 0.99)a
 19 (13 to 31)b
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 17
 22
 0.7 (0.65 to 0.82)a
 16 (11 to 29)b
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 47
 51
 0.95 (0.93 to 0.97)a
 31 (24 to 44)b
Lack of efficacy





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 7.2
 22
 0.4 (0.32 to 0.41)a
 7.4 (6.3 to 8.9)b
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 9.1
 23
 0.5 (0.45 to 0.62)a
 6.6 (5.9 to 7.6)b
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 7.6
 7.5
 1.0 (0.8 to 1.2)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 8.8
 9.5
 0.9 (0.86 to 0.97)a
 145 (80 to 820)b
Clinical adverse event





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 5.1
 4.4
 1.2 (0.9 to 1.4)
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 8.2
 3.8
 1.8 (1.4 to 2.4)a
 23 (17 to 35)c
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 5
 8.2
 0.7 (0.53 to 0.81)a
 31 (22 to 54)b
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 17
 18
 1.0 (0.94 to 1.02)
Laboratory adverse event





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 0.7
 0.7
 0.9 (0.5 to 1.7)
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 0.7
 0.6
 0.9 (0.4 to 2.1)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 0.3
 0.5
 0.6 (0.3 to 1.4)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 1.2
 3.3
 0.4 (0.34 to 0.45)a
 49 (43 to 57)b
Gastrointestinal adverse event





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 1.9
 1.7
 1.3 (0.9 to 1.8)
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 4.7
 1.6
 2.6 (1.7 to 3.9)
 33 (24 to 52)c
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 2.0
 4.1
 0.5 (0.38 to 0.73)a
 47 (33 to 85)b
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 4.4
 7.7
 0.6 (0.54 to 0.63)a
 30 (27 to 35)b
Serious adverse event





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 0.9
 0.7
 1.0 (0.6 to 1.7)
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 0.9
 0.6
 1.2 (0.6 to 2.4)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 0.7
 0.9
 0.8 (0.5 to 1.6)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 5.5
 5.3
 1.1 (0.98 to 1.2)
Hypertension





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 0.4
 0.04
 1.6 (0.8 to 3.5)
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 0.5
 0.1
 2.0 (0.8 to 4.9)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 0.5
 0.5
 1.0 (0.5 to 2.0)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 2.1
 1.3
 1.7 (1.4 to 1.9)a
 120 (94 to 180)c
Oedema





     Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 16
 6,388
 0.3
 0.1
 1.2 (0.6 to 2.6)
     NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)
 10
 3,690
 0.4
 0.1
 1.6 (0.6 to 4.2)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)
 12
 5,186
 0.3
 0.4
 1.1 (0.5 to 2.3)
     Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)
 17
 39,881
 1.0
 0.7
 1.5 (1.2 to 1.9)a
 320 (200 to 720)c

Note that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) indicates traditional NSAIDs only. aStatistically significant difference in relative risk. bNumber needed to treat to prevent an event (NNTp). cNumber needed to cause an event (NNH). CI, confidence interval.

Moore et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 10:R53   doi:10.1186/ar2422

Open Data