A systematic review of primary outcomes and outcome measure reporting in randomized trials evaluating treatments for pre‐eclampsia

AbstractBackgroundAn evaluation of outcome reporting is required to develop a core outcome set.ObjectivesTo assess primary outcomes and outcome measure reporting in pre‐eclampsia trials.Search strategyFive online databases were searched from inception to January 2016 using terms including “preeclampsia” and “randomized controlled trial”.Selection criteriaRandomized controlled trials evaluating treatments for pre‐eclampsia published in any language were included.Data collection and analysisPrimary outcomes and data on outcome measure reporting were systematically extracted and categorized.Main resultsOverall, 79 randomized trials including data from 31 615 women were included. Of those, 38 (48%) reported 35 different primary outcomes; 28 were maternal outcomes and seven were fetal/neonatal outcomes. Three randomized trials reported composite outcomes, incorporating between six and nine outcome components. The method of definition or measurement was infrequently or poorly reported. Even when outcomes were consistent across trials, different methods of definition or measurement were frequently described.ConclusionsIn randomized trials evaluating interventions for pre‐eclampsia, critical information related to the primary outcome, including definition and measurement, is regularly omitted. Developing a core outcome set for pre‐eclampsia trials would help to inform primary outcome selection and outcome measure reporting.