title: An orwellian discourse on the meaning and measurement of noninferiority.
abstract: The customary interpretation of active-controlled noninferiority trials is founded on a number of unverifiable assumptions. These assumptions can be circumvented, and the semantic and statistic interpretation of the trials placed on a more rational foundation, if treatment comparisons are analyzed from a Bayesian perspective. In conclusion, the resultant probabilistic measures thereby render the meaning of noninferiority more transparent and clinically relevant.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA. gadiamond@pol.net
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaul
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents