Table 1

Comparison of the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one death among clinical interventions delivered in primary care

InterventionNNT
Smoking cessation
 Brief advice40
 Intensive behavioural support with
  Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)23*/46†
  Varenicline10*/20†
Statins as primary prevention107
Antihypertension treatment for mild hypertension700
Screening for cervical cancer1140
Mammography205
Papanicolaou smear534
Pneumococcal vaccine716

  • Modified from: Critchley and Capewell1; Van Schayck et al. 2

  • *NNT to have one person quit smoking.

  • †NNT to prevent one death.