Figure 1

Relative and Absolute Benefits for Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICDs) Stratified by Total Mortality Risk: These graphs show the relative (A) and absolute (B) benefit for ICDs assuming that the devices are 75% effective in preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) but not at all effective in preventing pump failure. The risk ratio of SCD to pump failure death was empirically observed [30]. Note that both relative risk reduction decreases monotonically. Absolute risk reduction demonstrates a U-shaped benefit; benefit is low in low risk groups whose risk of SCD is low and in high risk groups who are suffer pump failure.