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Evidence

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

The number of patients who need a treatment for one to benefit.

NNT translates trial results into patient-friendly numbers. NNT of 10 means treat 10 patients to benefit 1; NNT of 100 means treat 100 to benefit 1.

What this means for you: NNTs help you weigh whether modest benefits justify side-effect risks. Ask your physician for the NNT of recommended treatments.

General information, not medical advice

What a term means for you depends on your own reports. Ask your treating doctor, or send your reports for a free review.

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