Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26901063›Full record

ArticlePloS one2016

Application of Probabilistic Multiple-Bias Analyses to a Cohort- and a Case-Control Study on the Association between Pandemrix™ and Narcolepsy.

Kaatje Bollaerts, Vivek Shinde, Gaël Dos Santos, Germano Ferreira, Vincent Bauchau, Catherine Cohet, Thomas Verstraeten

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Narcolepsy Associated with Pandemrix Vaccine.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2018
    Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kaatje BollaertsP95 Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology Services, Koning Leopold III Laan 1, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Vivek ShindeGSK Vaccines, 2301 Renaissance Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA 19406, United States of America.
Gaël Dos SantosBusiness & Decision Life Sciences (contractor for GSK Vaccines), Rue Saint Lambert 141, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Germano FerreiraGSK Vaccines, Avenue Fleming 20, B-1300 Wavre, Belgium.
Vincent BauchauGSK Vaccines, Avenue Fleming 20, B-1300 Wavre, Belgium.
Catherine CohetGSK Vaccines, Avenue Fleming 20, B-1300 Wavre, Belgium.
Thomas VerstraetenP95 Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology Services, Koning Leopold III Laan 1, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAn increase in narcolepsy cases was observed in Finland and Sweden towards the end of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Preliminary observational studies suggested a temporal link with the pandemic influenza vaccine Pandemrix™, leading to a number of additional studies across Europe. Given the public health urgency, these studies used readily available retrospective data from various sources. The potential for bias in such settings was generally acknowledged. Although generally advocated by key opinion leaders and international health authorities, no systematic quantitative assessment of the potential joint impact of biases was undertaken in any of these studies.

methodsWe applied bias-level multiple-bias analyses to two of the published narcolepsy studies: a pediatric cohort study from Finland and a case-control study from France. In particular, we developed Monte Carlo simulation models to evaluate a potential cascade of biases, including confounding by age, by indication and by natural H1N1 infection, selection bias, disease- and exposure misclassification. All bias parameters were evidence-based to the extent possible.

resultsGiven the assumptions used for confounding, selection bias and misclassification, the Finnish rate ratio of 13.78 (95% CI: 5.72-28.11) reduced to a median value of 6.06 (2.5th- 97.5th percentile: 2.49-15.1) and the French odds ratio of 5.43 (95% CI: 2.6-10.08) to 1.85 (2.5th-97.5th percentile: 0.85-4.08).

conclusionWe illustrate multiple-bias analyses using two studies on the Pandemrix™-narcolepsy association and advocate their use to better understand the robustness of study findings. Based on our multiple-bias models, the observed Pandemrix™-narcolepsy association consistently persists in the Finnish study. For the French study, the results of our multiple-bias models were inconclusive.

Indexed as

Influenza A Virus, H1N1 SubtypePandemicsAdolescentAdultCase-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleFinlandFranceHumansInfluenza, HumanInfluenza VaccinesMaleNarcolepsySwedenInfluenza Vaccinespandemrix

Identifiers

PMID26901063
PMCPMC4762678

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.