The valuable contribution of observational studies to nephrology

被引:56
作者
Jager, K. J.
Stel, V. S.
Wanner, C.
Zoccali, C.
Dekker, F. W.
机构
[1] Univ Amsterdam, Acad Med Ctr, Dept Med Informat, ERA EDTA, NL-1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
[2] Univ Clin Wurzburg, Dept Med, Div Nephrol, Wurzburg, Germany
[3] Osped Riuniti Bergamo, CNR IBIM Clin Epidemiol & Pathophysiol Renal Dis, Transplantat Unit, Reggio Di Calabria, Italy
[4] Leiden Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Clin Epidemiol, Leiden, Netherlands
关键词
cross-sectional studies; cohort studies; case-control studies; study design; observational studies; randomized controlled trials;
D O I
10.1038/sj.ki.5002397
中图分类号
R5 [内科学]; R69 [泌尿科学(泌尿生殖系疾病)];
学科分类号
1002 ; 100201 ;
摘要
In studies on the effects of therapy (or other interventions), the randomized controlled trial (RCT) is an almost unbeatable standard in clinical research. The value of RCTs leaves unabated the valuable contributions of observational studies to medicine. This paper discusses some limitations of RCTs providing examples where these are not possible, inappropriate, inadequate, or unnecessary. Thereafter, it focuses on observational studies and gives a number of examples of studies on etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and adverse effects, where observational designs have provided answers to research questions that could not have been answered by RCTs. Strengths and weaknesses of the different observational study designs are discussed. Finally, it is concluded that both observational studies and RCTs fulfill a complementary and valuable role in nephrology.
引用
收藏
页码:671 / 675
页数:5
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