Here is the link to the Wikipedia article that I think you are quoting: Rofecoxib - Wikipedia It seems to be saying that somewhere between 26,400 (30% of 88,000) and 55,600 (40% of 139,000) people died as a result of this drug (this paper?). Wikipedia also mentions another study which seems to get different results for the risk, but I do not know how those numbers translate into American deaths (this paper?):
Several very large observational studies have also found elevated risk of heart attack from rofecoxib. For example, a recent retrospective study of 113,000 elderly Canadians suggested a borderline statistically significant increased relative risk of heart attacks of 1.24 from Vioxx usage, with a relative risk of 1.73 for higher-dose Vioxx usage. (Levesque, 2005). Another study, using Kaiser Permanente data, found a 1.47 relative risk for low-dose Vioxx usage and 3.58 for high-dose Vioxx usage compared to current use of celecoxib, though the smaller number was not statistically significant, and relative risk compared to other populations was not statistically significant. (Graham, 2005).
The numbers for DMAA appear to be based mostly on voluntary reports:
As of April 11, 2013, FDA had received 86 reports of illnesses and death associated with supplements containing DMAA. The majority are voluntary reports from consumers and healthcare practitioners. The illnesses reported include heart problems and nervous system or psychiatric disorders. Note, however, that a report is not proof that the product actually caused the problem.
As of October, Hawaii reports 41 cases of liver problems, two liver transplants, and one death due to liver failure.
So, I do not think it is entirely useful to compare the numbers from one study (which may or may not be statistically consistent with another study) for a drug to the voluntarily reported numbers for a dietary supplement. I would also think that the number of people taking rofecoxib versus the number taking DMAA would need to be known for a comparison to be at all useful.
