Global Burden of Disease and Clinical Trials in Latin America
Author Information
Author(s): Pablo Perel, Jaime Miranda, Zulma Ortiz, Juan Pablo Casas
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between the global burden of disease and randomized clinical trials conducted in Latin America?
Conclusion
There is a poor correlation between the burden of disease and the publication of randomized clinical trials in Latin America.
Supporting Evidence
- Non-communicable diseases represent 48% of the burden of disease but only 14% of reported trials.
- No trials addressed injuries, despite them contributing 18% to the burden of disease.
- The majority of trials focused on communicable diseases, particularly traveler’s diarrhea.
Takeaway
This study found that many important health issues in Latin America are not being studied in clinical trials, even though they cause a lot of problems for people.
Methodology
The study analyzed randomized clinical trials published in five leading medical journals from 1990 to 2006 that were conducted in Latin America.
Potential Biases
There may be bias in publication favoring certain types of diseases over others.
Limitations
The study only included trials published in five leading medical journals, potentially missing other relevant studies.
Participant Demographics
Trials were conducted in various Latin American countries, including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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