Did You Know....no you didn't

Sundae · 10-04-2006, 05:22 AM

This is really about how companies with a product to promote present their data, right? They do it in the same way all businesses and most governments do these days - they put a positive spin on things.

Figures can always be manipulated in order to show what you want them to show, while still technically being honest. Newspapers don't sell with headlines like "No School Killings Today".

Statins do work. They lower cholesterol and there is a high correlation between high cholesterol and heart attacks. In this country GPs consult a risk criteria before prescribing statins, because they are an expensive drug. But the bottom line is the saving to the NHS of preventing even one heart attack (even in purely financial terms) is worth the cost of prescribing.

Almost everyone I know takes vitamin tablets. The proportion of people who this actually benefits is extremely low. Why do they take them? Well for the sake of a couple of quid they think it's worth the small potential that they might need them.

People do all sorts of things "just in case" including taking medicine, cutting food groups out of their diet, buying insurance, using contraception etc etc etc

Patients should be aware of the NNT. But my guess is they'd want the drugs anyway, in the same way they want to be insured against a meteorite hitting their car. Because what if....?

Griff · 10-04-2006, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Statins do work. They lower cholesterol and there is a high correlation between high cholesterol and heart attacks. In this country GPs consult a risk criteria before prescribing statins, because they are an expensive drug. But the bottom line is the saving to the NHS of preventing even one heart attack (even in purely financial terms) is worth the cost of prescribing.

My Mom died from liver cancer after being put on statins. Causation? [shrug] Correlation? Absolutely. I wonder how seriously people try dietary changes before going the drug route?

slang · 10-07-2006, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

I wonder how seriously people try dietary changes before going the drug route?

Not very seriously. Same for regular exercise. That might change as the costs of all these miracle cures increase as the middle class incomes decrease.

Hey. It could happen.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-13-2006, 10:24 AM

Sundae, with your health system, taking the drugs doesn't require a whole lot of decisions on the part of the patient, unlike here.

Retirees are the ones that need/take many of these expensive drugs. With Bush's sellout to the Drug companies, many of them are put in the position of having to pay for them without help. When making the choice between the drug and the rent, the NNT(and understanding it) would certainly be helpful.

10-04-2006, 05:22 AM	#1
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	This is really about how companies with a product to promote present their data, right? They do it in the same way all businesses and most governments do these days - they put a positive spin on things. Figures can always be manipulated in order to show what you want them to show, while still technically being honest. Newspapers don't sell with headlines like "No School Killings Today". Statins do work. They lower cholesterol and there is a high correlation between high cholesterol and heart attacks. In this country GPs consult a risk criteria before prescribing statins, because they are an expensive drug. But the bottom line is the saving to the NHS of preventing even one heart attack (even in purely financial terms) is worth the cost of prescribing. Almost everyone I know takes vitamin tablets. The proportion of people who this actually benefits is extremely low. Why do they take them? Well for the sake of a couple of quid they think it's worth the small potential that they might need them. People do all sorts of things "just in case" including taking medicine, cutting food groups out of their diet, buying insurance, using contraception etc etc etc Patients should be aware of the NNT. But my guess is they'd want the drugs anyway, in the same way they want to be insured against a meteorite hitting their car. Because what if....? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-13-2006, 10:24 AM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Sundae, with your health system, taking the drugs doesn't require a whole lot of decisions on the part of the patient, unlike here. Retirees are the ones that need/take many of these expensive drugs. With Bush's sellout to the Drug companies, many of them are put in the position of having to pay for them without help. When making the choice between the drug and the rent, the NNT(and understanding it) would certainly be helpful. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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