Abstract
Objective: To explore mortality outcome usage in Cochrane systematic reviews and Core Outcome Sets for research.
Study Design and Setting: Cochrane PICO searches identified Cochrane reviews (published January 2015-March 2021) including mortality outcomes. These outcomes were categorized according to terminology used: all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, infant mortality, maternal mortality, survival.
Mortality outcomes in Core Outcome Sets (published until 2019 on the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) database) were also extracted and categorized.
Results: In total, 2454 mortality outcomes were reported in 49% (1978/3999) of Cochrane reviews published January 2015-March 2021: all-cause (37%), infant (23%), maternal (11%), survival (10%), cause-specific (9%). Due to reviews not specifying mortality outcome type or including studies reporting no data, 11% (273/2208) remained uncategorized. Infant mortality and maternal mortality were frequently used together in reviews reporting two mortality outcomes.
In total, 226 mortality outcomes were reported in 37% (165/449) of Core Outcome Sets: all-cause (48%), survival (27%), cause-specific (12%), infant (9%), maternal (4%). Mortality measurement timing varied.
Conclusion: Mortality outcome usage varies in Cochrane reviews and Core Outcome Sets. This is problematic for evidence-based decision-making. Greater standardization is necessary for effective utilization of health research.
Study Design and Setting: Cochrane PICO searches identified Cochrane reviews (published January 2015-March 2021) including mortality outcomes. These outcomes were categorized according to terminology used: all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, infant mortality, maternal mortality, survival.
Mortality outcomes in Core Outcome Sets (published until 2019 on the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) database) were also extracted and categorized.
Results: In total, 2454 mortality outcomes were reported in 49% (1978/3999) of Cochrane reviews published January 2015-March 2021: all-cause (37%), infant (23%), maternal (11%), survival (10%), cause-specific (9%). Due to reviews not specifying mortality outcome type or including studies reporting no data, 11% (273/2208) remained uncategorized. Infant mortality and maternal mortality were frequently used together in reviews reporting two mortality outcomes.
In total, 226 mortality outcomes were reported in 37% (165/449) of Core Outcome Sets: all-cause (48%), survival (27%), cause-specific (12%), infant (9%), maternal (4%). Mortality measurement timing varied.
Conclusion: Mortality outcome usage varies in Cochrane reviews and Core Outcome Sets. This is problematic for evidence-based decision-making. Greater standardization is necessary for effective utilization of health research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 47-54 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Epidemiology |
| Volume | 145 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Jan 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Torunn Sivesind receives fellowship funding from the Pfizer Global Medical Grant (58858477) Dermatology Fellowship 2020 (PI: Robert P. Dellavalle) and fees for serving as a Medical Advisor and Investigator for Antedotum Inc. These entities did not contribute funding for the present work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords
- Mortality
- Death
- Outcome
- Systematic review
- Core outcome set
Access to Document
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This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Elsevier at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.01.006. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.