Association between randomised trial evidence and global burden of disease: cross sectional study (Epidemiological Study of Randomized Trials--ESORT).

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine whether an association exists between the number of published randomised controlled trials and the global burden of disease, whether certain diseases are under-investigated relative to their burden, and whether the relation between the output of randomised trials and global burden of disease can be explained by the relative disease burden in high and low income regions.

Design

Cross sectional investigation.

Study sample

All primary reports of randomised trials published in December 2012 and indexed in PubMed by 17 November 2013.

Main outcome measures

Number of trials conducted and number of participants randomised for each of 239 different diseases or injuries; variation in each outcome explainable by total disability adjusted life years

SUBMITTER: Emdin CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4309646 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature