Table 2.
Characteristics of trials across different direct comparisons
| Anastrozole vs tamoxifen24–27 | Letrozole vs tamoxifen12,13 | Exemestane vs tamoxifen28,33,34 | Anastrozole vs placebo29 | Letrozole vs placebo30 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of trials | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Number of patients | 10,609 | 4,895 | 14,695 | 883 | 5,187 | |
| Year of publication | 2008 (2005–2010) | 2010–2011 | 2007 (2007–2008) | 2007 | 2003 | |
| Myocardial infarction (‰) | 1.45 vs 1.46 | 19.61 vs 10.22 | 8.65 vs 6.23 | 25 vs 0 | NA | |
| Cerebrovascular disease (‰) | 10.08 vs 10.10 | 18.38 vs 15.53 | 12.57 vs 10.18 | NA | 6.4 vs 6.1 | |
| Thromboembolism (‰) | 2.49 vs 11.22 | 12.66 vs 21.66 | 7.48 vs 19.70 | 2.1 vs 7.6 | NA | |
| Cardiovascular death (‰) | 29.12 vs 30.49 | NA | 8.51 vs 5.31 | NA | NA | |
| Non-breast cancer-related death (‰) | 71.51 vs 67.65 | 35.32 vs 34.97 | 31.51 vs 27.27 | NA | 8.2 vs 9.7 | |
| Breast cancer-related death (‰) | 81.53 vs 93.35 | 87.70 vs 102.48 | 63.90 vs 67.21 | NA | 3.5 vs 6.6 | |
Abbreviation: NA, not available.