The Physicians\' Health Study randomly assigned 22,071 healthy male physicians a

Question

The Physicians' Health Study randomly assigned 22,071 healthy male physicians at least 40 years old to take either an aspirin every other day or a placebo pill every other day. Of the 11346 physicians who took aspirin regularly for 5 years, 5 had a fatal heart attack and 130 had a nonfatal heart attack. Of the 10725 who took the placebo, 32 suffered a fatal heart attack and 208 had a nonfatal heart attack. Please use 4 decimal places to answer the questions below.

(a) What is the proportion of physicians who suffered a fatal heart attack in the:

aspirin group?  
placebo group?

(b) Calculate the relative risk of a fatal heart attack for physicians taking aspirin compared with those taking a placebo (do not use the rounded values from part (a) to do your calculations. Use the original proportions in your calculation. Remember, give your answer to 4 decimal places.).

(c) What is the proportion of physicians who suffered a nonfatal heart attack in the:

aspirin group?  
placebo group?

(d) Calculate the relative risk of a nonfatal heart attack, for physicians taking aspirin compared with those taking a placebo (do not use rounded values in your calculation and give your answer to 4 decimal places).

Explanation / Answer

a) The proportion of physicians who suffered a fatal heart attack in the

Aspirin group = (5/11346)*100 = 0.0441%

Placebo group = (32/10725)*100 = 0.2984%

b) The relative risk of a fatal heart attack for physicians taking aspirin compared with those taking a placebo

= (Incidence among aspirin group/Incidence among placebo group)

= (5/11346)/(32/10725) = 0.1477

RR = 0.1477

c) The proportion of physicians who suffered a nonfatal heart attack in the

Aspirin group = (130/11346)*100 = 1.1458%

Placebo group = (208/10725)*100 = 1.9394%

d) The relative risk of a nonfatal heart attack, for physicians taking aspirin compared with those taking a placebo

= (130/11346)/(208/10725) = 0.5908

RR = 0.5908

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