It is common practice to use mortality as a primary outcomes variable, particularly in critical care research. Today, we welcome Dr, Eric Benoit to the Podcast to discuss why this may not always be the best approach and the other ways we can examine outcomes in clinical-based research. We will touch on topics such as composite outcomes, quality adjusted life years, the treatment effect and the infrequently discussed fragility index.    

Selected references: 

Harhay, et al. “Outcomes & statistical power in adult critical care randomized trials.” Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2014. PMID 24786714  

Kent & Trikalinos. “Therapeutic innovations, diminishing returns, and control rate preservation.” JAMA 2009. PMID 19934428  

Sackett. “Why randomized controlled trials fail but needn’t: 2. Failure to employ physiologic statistics, or the only formula a clinician-trialist is ever likely to need (or understand!)” Can Med Assoc J 2001. PMID 11706914  

Tignanelli & Napolitano. “The Fragility Index in randomized controlled trials as a means of optimizing patient care.” JAMA Surgery 2019. PMID 30422256  

Ioannidis. “Why most published research findings are false.” PLoS Med 2005. PMID 16060772