data <- list(a=1000, b=800, c=600, d=400)


DiagrammeR::grViz("
digraph graph2 {

graph [layout = dot]

# node definitions with substituted label text
node [shape = rectangle, width = 4, fillcolor = Biege]
a [label = '@@1']
b [label = '@@2']
c [label = '@@3']
node [shape = rectangle, width = 2, fillcolor = Biege]
d [label = '@@4']
e [label = '@@5']

a -> b -> c [dir=s]
a -> d [dir=e]
b -> e [dir=e]
# c -> f

{rank=same; a -> b -> c [dir=s]}

}

[1]: paste0('All patients in TALOS (n = ', data$a, ')')
[2]: paste0('Patients with PASE (n = ', data$b, ')')
[3]: paste0('Patients with first event after follow-up (n = ', data$c, ')')
[4]: paste0('Excluded due to missing PASE (n = ', data$d, ')')
[5]: paste0('Excluded due to early event (n = ', data$d, ')')
# [6]: paste0('Excluded due to missing PASE (n = ', data$d, ')')
")