Reporting of Hospital-Free Days As an Outcome Measure in Critical Care Trials: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To synthesize the existing use, definitions, and variation in the application of hospital-free days (HFDs) as an outcome measure in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of critically ill adults.

Data sources

Trial registries (ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov ) and electronic databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL PLUS).

Study selection

We included trial registrations, protocols, or articles reporting RCTs that included patients admitted to an adult ICU and had any variation of HFD as a primary or secondary outcome.

Data extraction

Data collected included definition of HFD, statistical analysis, minimal clinically important difference, method of data collection, and loss to follow-up. Risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the relev

SUBMITTER: Shackleton R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12655879 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature