Challenges and Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Trials: Should We Be Doing Clinical Trials Differently?

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 crisis led to a flurry of clinical trials activity. The COVID-evidence database shows 2814 COVID-19 randomized trials registered as of February 16, 2021. Most were small (only 18% have a planned sample size > 500) and the rare completed ones have not provided published results promptly (only 283 trial publications as of February 2021). Small randomized trials and observational, nonrandomized analyses have not had a successful track record and have generated misleading expectations. Different large trials on the same intervention have generally been far more efficient in producing timely and consistent evidence. The rapid generation of evidence and accelerated dissemination of results have led to new challenges for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (eg, rapid, living, and sc

SUBMITTER: Janiaud P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8164884 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature