Unexplained mortality differences between septic shock trials: a systematic analysis of population characteristics and control-group mortality rates.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:Although the definition of septic shock has been standardized, some variation in mortality rates among clinical trials is expected. Insights into the sources of heterogeneity may influence the design and interpretation of septic shock studies. We set out to identify inclusion criteria and baseline characteristics associated with between-trial differences in control group mortality rates. METHODS:We conducted a systematic review of RCTs published between 2006 and 2018 that included patients with septic shock. The percentage of variance in control-group mortality attributable to study heterogeneity rather than chance was measured by I2. The association between control-group mortality and population characteristics was estimated using linear mixed models and a recursive partitioning a

SUBMITTER: de Grooth HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5861172 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature