title: observational studies: propensity score analysis of non-randomized data.
abstract: The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered to be the "gold standard" for providing evidence on drug efficacy. However, particularly for answering long-term questions in chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), RCTs are often not feasible because of their size, duration, ethical constraints and costs. Data derived from observational studies complement information provided by RCTs. A major issue is that observational studies are more exposed and prone to biases, which can partly be addressed through rigorous study design or statistical analysis. Propensity score (PS) techniques are the most frequently used. PS is the probability that an individual would receive a certain treatment based on his/her pretreatment characteristics. This score is being widely used in many therapeutic areas and also in MS to adjust for the uncontrolled assignment of treatment in observational studies. However, since PS cannot adjust for unmeasured or unknown confounders, the conclusions from an observational study may not be considered as strong as those from RCTs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11 70124, Bari, Italy. mtrojano@neurol.uniba.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paolicelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuiani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015982:Bias; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods; D057216:Propensity Score; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents