Incidence of ADRs
Look up the drug varenicline. Look at the SPC (summary of product characteristics) then look under the section called Undesirable Effects. Identify the cardiac adverse effects palpitations. These are classified as uncommon. Will that make you confident in the use of the drug? Uncommon is 1 in 100 up to 1 in 1000.
Now consider how many people smoke (say 20% (Cancer Research UK) of the adult population of say 50 million) and how many could be offered varenicline. How many of these could potentially be affected with atrial fibrillation or palpitations?
Incidence of ADRs
It seems a very broad classification. 20% of 50 million is 10 million at let’s say 10% are offered varenicline that’s 1 million and if 1 in 1000 suffer the ADR that’s still 1000 people. The benefits of stopping smoking must not be underestimated and may in your opinion (and mine) outweigh the possible ADR but caution particularly in susceptible people is required.
There is no correct answer to this activity and this drug was selected at random. It’s your reflection and an understanding of these classifications that matter, and will enable you to apply the same principles to other drugs too.
Copyright eBook 2019, University of Leeds, Leeds Institute of Medical Education.