The External Validity of Randomized Controlled Trials of Hypertension within China: from the Perspective of Sample Representation

Xin Zhang, Yuxia Wu, Deying Kang, Jialiang Wang, Qi Hong and Le Peng

PLOS ONE, 2013, vol. 8, issue 12, 1-

Abstract: Objective: To explore external validity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of hypertension within China from the view of sample representation. Methods: Comprehensive literature searches were performed in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCTR) et al and advanced search strategies were used to locate hypertension RCTs as well as observational studies conducted in China during 1996 to 2009 synchronously. The risk of bias in RCTs and observational studies was assessed by two modified scales respectively, and then both types of studies with 3 or more grading scores were included for the purpose of evaluating of external validity. Following that the study characteristics relative to sample representation were extracted from RCTs and observational studies synchronously, and the later were taken as external references for validating sample representation of RCTs. Results: 226 hypertension RCTs and 21 observational studies were included for final analysis. Comparing samples with observational studies, the mean age of samples within RCTs was 54.46 years, significantly lower than that of observational studies (66.35 years) (P=0.002). The average disease course in patients of RCTs was 3.89 years and grade III hypertensive patients accounted for 17%; both were lower than that of the observational studies (12.96 years, P

Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0082324

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082324

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