Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29467027›Full record

SynthesisTrials2018

Quality of reporting of outcomes in phase III studies of pulmonary tuberculosis: a systematic review.

Laura Jayne Bonnett, Gie Ken-Dror, Geraint Rhys Davies

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Trials, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Concordance of three approaches for operationalizing outcome definitions for multidrug-resistant TB.The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease · 2023
    Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. 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

3 authors.

Laura Jayne BonnettDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool, Waterhouse Building, Block F, 1-5 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK. L.J.Bonnett@liverpool.ac.uk.
Gie Ken-DrorDepartment of Biostatistics and Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Waterhouse Building, Block F, 1-5 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK.
Geraint Rhys DaviesDepartment of Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK.

Funding

Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking 115337
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite more than 60 years of clinical trials, tuberculosis (TB) still causes a high global burden of mortality and morbidity. Treatment currently requires multiple drugs in combination, taken over a prolonged period. New drugs are needed to shorten treatment duration, prevent resistance and reduce adverse events. However, to improve on current methodology in drug development, a more complete understanding of the existing clinical evidence base is required.

methodsA systematic review was undertaken to summarise outcomes reported in phase III trials of patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB. A systematic search of databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and LILACs) was conducted on 30 November 2017 to retrieve relevant peer-reviewed articles. Reference lists of included studies were also searched. This systematic review considered all reported outcomes.

resultsOf 248 included studies, 229 considered "on-treatment" outcomes whilst 148 reported "off-treatment" outcomes. There was wide variation and ambiguity in the definition of reported outcomes, including their relationship to treatment and in the time points evaluated. Additional challenges were observed regarding the analysis approach taken (per protocol versus intention to treat) and the varying durations of "intensive" and "continuation" phases of treatment. Bacteriological outcomes were most frequently reported but radiological and clinical data were often included as an implicit or explicit component of the overall definition of outcome.

conclusionsTerminology used to define long-term outcomes in phase III trials is inconsistent, reflecting evolving differences in protocols and practices. For successful future cumulative meta-analysis, the findings of this review suggest that greater availability of individual patient data and the development of a core outcome set would be desirable. In the meantime, we propose a simple and logical approach which should facilitate combination of key evidence and inform improvements in the methodology of TB drug development and clinical trials.

Indexed as

Data AccuracyAntitubercular AgentsClinical Trials, Phase III as TopicDrug Therapy, CombinationEndpoint DeterminationEvidence-Based MedicineHumansOutcome Assessment, Health CareResearch DesignTerminology as TopicTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeTuberculosis, PulmonaryAntitubercular AgentsOutcomesPhase III clinical trialsSystematic reviewTuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID29467027
PMCPMC5822642

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.