Difficulties in the interpretation of the results of biomedical research related to chronic noncommunicable disease patient management

Authors

  • Gordon H. Guyatt Departamento de Epidemiología Clínica y Bioestadística, Universidad de McMaster. Hamilton, Canadá. Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de McMaster. Hamilton, Canadá. Master of Science.
  • Germán Málaga CRONICAS, Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades Crónicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú. Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú. médico, magister en Medicina.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2014.311.18

Keywords:

Evidence-based medicine, Health status indicators, Therapeutic misconception, Biological markers, Clinical trials as topic

Abstract

The progressive increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD) has generated a need to change the paradigms in interpreting research about therapeutic and disease control strategies. One aspect to keep in mind is the incorporation of risk awareness that CNCD treatment implies, which creates uncertainty in the treatment result, compared to the curative paradigm that occurs in communicable diseases where a cure is expected. Another aspect is related to clinical trials result reports, where substitute results are used frequently. For example, the therapeutic goal of reducing glycosylated hemoglobin in a diabetic patient instead of showing the results based on treatment benefit (such as prevention of myocardial infarction). Problems arise when looking for a substitute that can replace the result that really matters. That is why we must be alert to the widespread use of results grouping (composite outcomes) which while they allow studies with fewer patients with shorter follow-up times and less expense, they can generate misleading results and show presumed untrue benefits due to improper selection of components of the “composite outcomes”. In this article we draw attention to new challenges in the interpretation of scientific studies related to CNCDs.

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Published

2014-03-14

Issue

Section

Symposium

How to Cite

1.
Guyatt GH, Málaga G. Difficulties in the interpretation of the results of biomedical research related to chronic noncommunicable disease patient management. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2014 Mar. 14 [cited 2024 Dec. 4];31(1). Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/18

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