title: [How to critically assess intensive care cohort studies?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cohort studies are useful to identify risk and prognostic factors, assess disease natural history and verify the impact of diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. This article aims to guide readers on how to critically assess papers using a cohort research design.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  For a critical appraisal of cohort studies, one must observe: the existence of selection and information bias, the continuity of the follow-up, the control of confounding variables, the significance of the results and its applicability in clinical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of factors which affect the quality of cohort studies allows intensive care professionals to select the best available evidence to guide the decision making process.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital do Coração, São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Erica Aranha
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Suzumura
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital do Coração, São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: João Bosco
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital do Coração, São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buehler
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital do Coração, São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carballo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital do Coração, São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Otavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Berwanger