Industry sponsorship bias in research findings: a network meta-analysis of LDL cholesterol reduction in randomised trials of statins.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To explore the risk of industry sponsorship bias in a systematically identified set of placebo controlled and active comparator trials of statins.

Design

Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Eligibility

Open label and double blind randomised controlled trials comparing one statin with another at any dose or with control (placebo, diet, or usual care) for adults with, or at risk of developing, cardiovascular disease. Only trials that lasted longer than four weeks with more than 50 participants per trial arm were included. Two investigators assessed study eligibility.

Data sources

Bibliographic databases and reference lists of relevant articles published between 1 January 1985 and 10 March 2013.

Data extraction

One investigator extracted

SUBMITTER: Naci H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4184241 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature