title: Variation in the reporting of outcomes among pregnant women with epilepsy: a systematic review.
abstract: Studies on pregnant women with epilepsy should evaluate both neurological and pregnancy outcomes. We undertook a systematic review of the literature of studies on pregnant women with epilepsy to collate the outcomes reported, and the quality of outcomes report in these studies. We searched major electronic databases (from 1999 until January 2015). Two independent reviewers selected studies and extracted data on study design, the risk of bias of the studies, journal impact factor and the quality of reported outcomes. We assessed the quality outcomes report using a six items standardised tool (score range 0-6). There were 70 different outcomes reported in 232 studies (maternal neurological (13/70, 19%), fetal and neonatal (28/70, 40%), and obstetric outcomes (29/70, 41%)). Most studies reported on major congenital fetal abnormalities (103/232, 44%), followed by live birth (60/232, 26%). Quality of the reported outcomes was poor (mean 1.54, SD 1.36). It was associated with journal impact factor (p=0.007), but not with study design (p=0.60), or risk of bias (p=0.17). The outcomes reported in studies on pregnant women with epilepsy varied widely, and the quality of the outcomes report was poor. There is a need to identify a set of core outcome to harmonise reporting in future clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Unit, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Bassel H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Al Wattar
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Unit, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Placzek
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Women's Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Troko
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Women's Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, UK; University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pirie
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Unit, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University London, London, UK; Multidisciplinary Evidence Synthesis Hub (mEsh), Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University London, London, UK. Electronic address: k.s.khan@qmul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Khalid S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Dougall
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCorry
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Unit, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Unit, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University London, London, UK; Multidisciplinary Evidence Synthesis Hub (mEsh), Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Shakila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thangaratinam
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D019468:Disease Management; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Epilepsy; Fetal; Maternal; Neurological; Outcomes; Pregnancy