Table 3 Characteristics of cohort-controlled echocardiographic studies included in analysis
From: Appetite suppressants and valvular heart disease – a systematic review
Author | Year | Patient selection | Ascertainment of drug exposure | Mean duration (days) | Blinding of outcome assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gardin [10] | 2000 | Recruited by physicians known to be frequent prescribers – 25 centres. Controls from same centres | Medical records and interview – dexfenfluramine, or combination of fenfluramine-phentermine | 252 | Performed blind, tapes read blind at central laboratory |
Hensrud [11] | 1999 | Patients from double-blind randomized controlled trial | In trial of fenfluramine-phentermine | 284 | Blinded reviewer |
Jollis [12] | 2000 | Prescription registry data for 33 practices, controls from same centres | Prescription registry – fenfluramine-phentermine together | 337 | Blinded reviewer |
Khan [13] | 1998 | Participated in drug study at medical centre, controls from media advert | Medical records and self-reports – dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine or phentermine. | 615 | 67 unblinded; others performed blind |
Shively [14] | 1999 | Recruited by prescribers at 26 centres; controls were obese patients at same centres with no drugs for 5 years | Medical records – dexfenfluramine | 207 | Blinded and told not to discuss medication history |
Wee [15] | 1998 | 46/76 patients with previous echo from two academic centres; patients acted as their own controls | Medical records – dexfenfluramine or fenfluramine | Median 160 | Performed unblinded; reread in blinded manner by one of two readers |
Weissman [16] | 1998 | 1072/1212 patients from double-blind randomized controlled trial | In a trial of dexfenfluramine | 71 | Double blinding of trial maintained |