Substantial heterogeneity found in reporting mortality in Cochrane systematic reviews and Core Outcome Sets in COMET database

Eve Tomlinson; Jordi Pardo Pardo; Susanna Dodd; Torunn Sivesind; Mindy D Szeto; Robert P Dellavalle; Nicole Skoetz; Melissa Laughter; George A Wells; Peter Tugwell

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.01.006

Substantial heterogeneity found in reporting mortality in Cochrane systematic reviews and Core Outcome Sets in COMET database

J Clin Epidemiol. 2022 May:145:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.01.006. Epub 2022 Jan 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Cochrane Gynaecological, Neuro-oncology and Orphan Cancers Group, Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK.; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.. Electronic address: eve.tomlinson@bristol.ac.uk.
² Department of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
³ Department of Health Data Science, University of Liverpool (a member of Liverpool Health Partners), Liverpool, United Kingdom.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO.
⁵ Dermatology Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
⁶ Evidence-Based Oncology, Department I of Internal Medicine and Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Dusseldorf, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
⁷ Department of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada.

PMID: 35045314
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.01.006

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.

Keywords: Core outcome set; Death; Mortality; Outcome; Systematic review.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Infant
Outcome Assessment, Health Care*