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The Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials in High-impact Rheumatology Journals, 1998-2018. J Rheumatol 2020 Sep 01;47(9):1446-1449

Date

04/03/2020

Pubmed ID

32238517

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7483963

DOI

10.3899/jrheum.191306

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85090251357 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   7 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCT) mitigate bias and confounding, but previous evaluations of rheumatology trials found high rates of methodological flaws. Outside of rheumatoid arthritis, no studies in the modern era have assessed the quality of rheumatology RCT over time or regarding industry funding.

METHODS: We identified all RCT published in 3 high-impact rheumatology journals from 1998, 2008, and 2018. Quality metrics derived from a modified Jadad scale were analyzed by year of publication and by funding source.

RESULTS: Ninety-six publications met inclusion criteria; 82 of these described the primary analysis of an RCT. Over time (1998-2008-2018), trials were less likely to adequately report dropouts and withdrawals (100% vs 82% vs 60%; p < 0.01) or include an active comparator (44% vs 12% vs 13%; p = 0.01). Later trials were more likely to evaluate biologic therapy (11% vs 38% vs 83%; p < 0.01) and report adequate randomization procedures (39% vs 29% vs 60%; p = 0.04). Seventy-nine percent of trials received industry funding. Industry-funded trials were more likely to report double-blinding (86% vs 53%; p < 0.01), patient-reported outcome measures (77% vs 41%; p < 0.01), and intention-to-treat analyses (86% vs 65%; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION: Industry-funded trials comprise the majority of RCT published in high-impact rheumatology journals and more frequently report metrics associated with RCT quality. RCT assessing active comparators and nonbiologic therapies have become less common in high-impact rheumatology journals.

Author List

Putman MS, Harrison Ragle A, Ruderman EM

Author

Michael Putman MD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Humans
Periodicals as Topic
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Rheumatology