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Review
. 2021 Mar;20(2):413-417.
doi: 10.1002/pst.2070. Epub 2020 Sep 7.

The promise and pitfalls of composite endpoints in sepsis and COVID-19 clinical trials

P M Brown  1   2 , Tormod Rogne  1   3 , Erik Solligård  1   3
Affiliations
Review

The promise and pitfalls of composite endpoints in sepsis and COVID-19 clinical trials

P M Brown et al. Pharm Stat. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Composite endpoints reveal the tendency for statistical convention to arise locally within subfields. Composites are familiar in cardiovascular trials, yet almost unknown in sepsis. However, the VITAMINS trial in patients with septic shock adopted a composite of mortality and vasopressor-free days, and an ordinal scale describing patient status rapidly became standard in COVID studies. Aware that recent use could incite interest in such endpoints, we are motivated to flag their potential value and pitfalls for sepsis research and COVID studies.

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References

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