$sql = "SELECT count(*) FROM table WHERE name = 'Jamie'";
  $sth = $dbh->prepare( $sql );
  if ( $sth && $sth->execute() ) {
    $row = $sth->fetchrow_arrayref();
    print( "Returned " . $row->[0] . " row(s)\n" );
  } else {
    print( "Error " . $dbh->errstr() . "\n" );
    exit( 1 );
  }