Using multiple risk models with preventive interventions.

ABSTRACT: An ideal preventive intervention would have negligible side effects and could be applied to the entire population, thus achieving maximal preventive impact. Unfortunately, many interventions have adverse effects and beneficial effects. For example, tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer by about 50% and the risk of hip fracture by 45%, but increases the risk of stroke by about 60%; other serious adverse effects include endometrial cancer and pulmonary embolus. Hence, tamoxifen should only be given to the subset of the population with high enough risks of breast cancer and hip fracture such that the preventive benefits outweigh the risks. Recommendations for preventive use of tamoxifen have been based primarily on breast cancer risk. Age-specific and race-specific rates were considered

SUBMITTER: Gail MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3926659 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature