ADAPT: The Wrong Way to Stop a Clinical Trial
2006
The Wrong Way to Stop a Clinical Trial
publication
Evidence: low
Author Information
Author(s): Steven E. Nissen
Primary Institution: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Hypothesis
Did the premature termination of the ADAPT trial lead to unreliable data interpretation?
Conclusion
The premature termination of the ADAPT trial was inappropriate and resulted in public concern without reliable data interpretation.
Supporting Evidence
- The ADAPT trial was stopped prematurely, leading to unreliable data interpretation.
- NIH officials issued a public warning about naproxen without following standard procedures.
- Data showed no significant increase in cardiovascular events for naproxen compared to placebo.
Takeaway
Stopping a study too early can lead to confusion and bad decisions about medicine, just like if you stop a game before it’s finished.
Potential Biases
Unblinded access to data by NIH officials may have influenced the decision to terminate the trial.
Limitations
The study's results cannot be reliably interpreted due to the premature termination.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.13
Confidence Interval
0.87 to 2.81
Statistical Significance
p=0.13
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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