2. Adverse events: aromatase inhibitors versus placebo.
| Goss 2011 | |||
| Adverse event | Exemestanea | Placeboa | RR (95% CI) |
| Non‐breast cancer | 19.19 | 16.90 | 1.13 (0.71 to 1.81) |
| Cardiovascular events | 47.32 | 49.3 | 0.96 (0.72 to 1.27) |
| Bone fracture | 66.51 | 63.61 | 1.04 (0.82 to 1.33) |
| Hot flashes (grade 3–4) | 29.91 | 19.12 | 1.56 (1.04 to 2.36)b |
| Arthritis (grade 3–4) | 14.28 | 7.56 | 1.89 (1.01 to 3.63)b |
| Diarrhea (grade 3–4) | 4.01 | 0.44 | 9.03 (1.24 to 395)b |
| Any (grade 3–4) | 253.57 | 207.74 | 1.22 (1.06 to 1.40)b |
| Cuzick 2014 | |||
| Adverse event | Anastrozolea | Placeboa | RR (95% CI) |
| Endometrial cancer | 1.56 | 2.57 | 0.61 (0.09 to 3.12) |
| Non‐breast cancer | 20.83 | 36.01 | 0.58 (0.38 to 0.87)b |
| Other cardiovascularc | 5.73 | 7.71 | 0.74 (0.31 to 1.73) |
| Thromboembolism | 9.89 | 8.74 | 1.13 (0.59 to 2.17) |
| Bone fractures | 85.41 | 76.64 | 1.11 (0.90 to 1.38) |
| Cataract | 46.87 | 48.86 | 0.96 (0.72 to 1.27) |
| Hot flashes | 567.71 | 494.34 | 1.15 (1.08 to 1.22)b |
| Arthritis | 506.25 | 459.87 | 1.10 (1.03 to 1.18)b |
| Total deaths | 9.37 | 8.74 | 1.07 (0.52 to 2.22) |
aRates per 1000 participants of adverse events reported in two randomized controlled trials comparing two aromatase inhibitors (exemestane and anastrozole) with placebo. bStatistically significant difference. cMyocardial infarction, heart failure or cerebrovascular accident. CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio.