Randomized controlled trials: significant results—fragile, though

TY - JOUR

T1 - Randomized controlled trials

T2 - significant results—fragile, though

AU - Nguyen, Tri Long

AU - Landais, Paul

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - In their systematic review, Shochet et al. question the robustness of the statistical significance of the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in nephrology reported in high-impact journals (2005–2014). They hypothesized that a high proportion of RCTs in nephrology would be fragile. They calculated a Fragility Index that is a tool for testing robustness of RCTs, based on 107 RCT reports. The observation of an alarming median Fragility Index equal to 3 suggests that in half of the trials, the sole additional occurrence of 3 events would compromise the significance of nominally significant results.

AB - In their systematic review, Shochet et al. question the robustness of the statistical significance of the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in nephrology reported in high-impact journals (2005–2014). They hypothesized that a high proportion of RCTs in nephrology would be fragile. They calculated a Fragility Index that is a tool for testing robustness of RCTs, based on 107 RCT reports. The observation of an alarming median Fragility Index equal to 3 suggests that in half of the trials, the sole additional occurrence of 3 events would compromise the significance of nominally significant results.

U2 - 10.1016/j.kint.2017.06.021

DO - 10.1016/j.kint.2017.06.021

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 29153136

AN - SCOPUS:85035774141

SN - 0085-2538

VL - 92

SP - 1319

EP - 1320

JO - Kidney International

JF - Kidney International

IS - 6

ER -