To the Editor: In the study of the association between tamsulosin and ophthalmic adverse events following cataract surgery by Dr Bell and colleagues,1 I believe there is a contradiction between the results as presented in the abstract and in the body of the article. The abstract states, “Adverse events were significantly more common among patients with recent tamsulosin exposure (7.5% vs 2.7%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-4.43). . . . ” This suggests a comparison of measurement of adverse outcomes between exposed vs nonexposed patients.
However, the nested case-control design of the study does not allow such an inference. As correctly stated in the “Results” section of the article, “In our primary analysis of adverse events following cataract surgery, 21 case patients (7.5%) and 30 control patients (2.7%) received tamsulosin in the 14 days before surgery. This resulted in an adjusted OR of 2.33 (95% CI, 1.22-4.43 . . . )”.
When considering the actual incidence of adverse outcomes, the correct rates would be 6.9 per 1000 persons using tamsulosin vs 3 per 1000 persons not using tamsulosin, based on estimates of absolute risk found by the authors. This is a very different interpretation.
Financial Disclosures: None reported.
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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