TUTE Calculator Support
Help, answers, and contact information for the TUTE Calculator app.
Contact Support
For questions, bug reports, feature requests, or other assistance, please contact:
To help resolve an issue quickly, please include:
- Your device model and operating system version (iOS or Android)
- What you entered (sex, age, procedure mortality, annual mortality) and the result you saw
- A brief description of what happened and what you expected
- A screenshot, if you can
About the App
TUTE Calculator estimates the time until treatment equipoise (TUTE): how long after a procedure it takes for the cumulative survival advantage of having the procedure to balance its up-front risk. It is based on the method described by Noorani, Hippeläinen and Nashef in JAMA Surgery (2014).
The app is a decision-support and reference tool for clinicians. It should not replace clinical judgment, multidisciplinary discussion, or a conversation with the patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the two risk fields mean?
Procedure mortality is the chance, as a percentage, of dying as a result of the procedure itself. Annual mortality, no procedure is the extra chance, as a percentage per year, of dying from the condition if it is not treated. Both are added on top of normal population mortality for the patient’s age and sex.
What does “Treatment equipoise not reached” mean?
Within the model, the survival advantage of the procedure never balances its early risk before age 100. For example, this can happen when the procedure carries a high risk and the untreated condition carries a low one.
Where do the life tables come from?
The app uses UK Office for National Statistics national life tables (2011–13), with projected improvements in mortality over time. Calculations use the current year and are separate for men and women.
What are the limitations of the model?
- The condition adds a constant excess mortality each year, so it cannot represent risks that are heavily front-loaded, such as an acute aortic dissection.
- It considers mortality only, assumes the procedure is curative, and does not account for other illnesses.
- Results are estimates that depend on the values you enter and on the assumptions above.
Does the app need an internet connection?
No. All calculations run on your device. The internet is used only if you tap the link to the published article.
Does the app store my entries?
No. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere. See the privacy policy below.
Privacy
TUTE Calculator does not collect personally identifiable information or health information. Read the full privacy policy.