This week, NEJM released a meta-analysis that, after omitting six studies where there were no cardiac events, found a barely statistically significant relative risk of 1.43 of myocardial infarction from long-term use of diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone). (A slightly higher relative risk of death from cardiac causes was not statistically significant, though also just barely.) Reuters reports that plaintiffs’ lawyers are deciding whether they can create a mass tort litigation against GlaxoSmithKline, though some already confidently predict that they will (which suggests how important the supposed due diligence required by the rules and being conducted now is). Note that a relative risk of 1.43 means that 70% of people who suffered heart attacks while taking Avandia would have had heart attacks anyway. Avandia’s warning label already warned of the risk of cardiovascular adverse events. (Cross-posted from Point of Law)
Update: Interesting analysis at one of the medical blogs.