Description of subgroup reporting in clinical trials of chronic diseases: a meta-epidemiological study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In trials, subgroup analyses are used to examine whether treatment effects differ by important patient characteristics. However, which subgroups are most commonly reported has not been comprehensively described.

Design and settings

Using a set of trials identified from the US clinical trials register (ClinicalTrials.gov), we describe every reported subgroup for a range of conditions and drug classes.

Methods

We obtained trial characteristics from ClinicalTrials.gov via the Aggregate Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov database. We subsequently obtained all corresponding PubMed-indexed papers and screened these for subgroup reporting. Tables and text for reported subgroups were extracted and standardised using Medical Subject Headings and WHO Anatomical Therape

SUBMITTER: Wei L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11328666 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature