The (ab)use of symptom scores in asthma clinical trials: evidence from a systematic review
- Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre (SHTAC), School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Epsilon House, Southampton Science Park, Southampton, UK
Background
The utility of patients’ self-reported asthma symptom scores in clinical trials has not been critically assessed. We investigated the types of symptom scores used in asthma clinical trials and how they are analysed and interpreted.
Methods
Systematic reviews conducted to inform asthma management guidance in England and Wales were used as an evidence base. These reviews identified 87 randomised controlled trials of the effectiveness and safety of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β-agonists, published during 1985 to 2006. From these trials …
