Fungal infection-related mortality versus total mortality as an outcome in trials of antifungal agents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Disease specific mortality is often used as outcome rather than total mortality in clinical trials. This approach assumes that the classification of cause of death is unbiased. We explored whether use of fungal infection-related mortality as outcome rather than total mortality leads to bias in trials of antifungal agents in cancer patients.

Methods

As an estimate of bias we used relative risk of death in those patients the authors considered had not died from fungal infection. Our sample consisted of 69 trials included in four systematic reviews of prophylactic or empirical antifungal treatment in patients with cancer and neutropenia we have published previously.

Results

Thirty trials met the inclusion criteria. The trials comprised 6130 patients and 869 de

SUBMITTER: Due AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1559710 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature