title: Beware of surrogate outcome measures.
abstract: Surrogate outcome measures may speed up clinical research if they can be measured earlier in a study than the primary outcome of interest. We review the justification for their use and conclude that reliance on them may be harmful. Results obtained with surrogates should therefore be regarded as preliminary. Large, definitive trials with clinically relevant outcomes should always be performed before new interventions are accepted.
authors.affiliation: Nordic Cochrane Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Gøtzsche
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossetti
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D008128:Logic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome