Table 3 Characteristics of trials (n = 189)
Mortality primary outcome | 10% |
Statistically significant for mortality | 9% |
Mortality reported in primary paper | 98% |
Multicenter | 37% |
Centers, mean number | 10 |
Domain | |
Medicine | 43% |
Obstetrics | 14% |
Pediatrics | 21% |
Surgery | 22% |
Country | |
Canada/USA | 33% |
Europe | 53% |
Asia | 4% |
Other | 11% |
Random sequence | |
Unclear | 54% |
Y | 46% |
N | 1% |
Allocation concealment, grade | |
Adequate (A) | 34% |
Unclear (B) | 27% |
Inadequate (C) | 2% |
Not Used (D) | 37% |
Double-blind | 39% |
Analysis | |
Unclear | 30% |
As treated | 29% |
As randomized | 41% |
Publication year, mean | 1993 |
External funding | |
Peer review | 47% |
Industry | 42% |
Not stated | 11% |
Patients in analysis, mean number (median) | 563 (165) |
Deaths, mean number (median) | 56 (21) |