A comprehensive review of randomized clinical trials in three medical journals reveals 396 medical reversals

Elife. 2019 Jun 11:8:e45183. doi: 10.7554/eLife.45183.

Abstract

The ability to identify medical reversals and other low-value medical practices is an essential prerequisite for efforts to reduce spending on such practices. Through an analysis of more than 3000 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in three leading medical journals (the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Lancet, and the New England Journal of Medicine), we have identified 396 medical reversals. Most of the studies (92%) were conducted on populations in high-income counties, cardiovascular disease was the most common medical category (20%), and medication was the most common type of intervention (33%).

Keywords: evidence-based medicine; human; low-value care; medical reversal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / standards*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Periodicals as Topic / standards*
  • Periodicals as Topic / statistics & numerical data
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / standards*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / statistics & numerical data
  • Research Design / standards*
  • Research Report / standards

Grants and funding

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.