BMJ  2005;330 (12 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7491.0-e

Interpreting composite end points is challenging

The use of composite end points makes the interpretation of randomised trials challenging. The relative clinical importance of the end points varies, say Montori and colleagues (p 594), and their validity depends on similarity in importance to patients, treatment effect, and number of events across the components. When large variations exist between components, the composite end point should be abandoned, they say.

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Validity of composite end points in clinical trials

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BMJ 2005 330: 594-596. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]