title: Reporting treatment outcomes in observational data: A fine balance.
abstract: Analyses of observational data have been gaining momentum in the evaluation of ever increasing spectrum of disease modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis. While high cost-effectiveness and generalisability represent their main advantages, these studies are also burdened with high risk of bias that may lead to erroneous conclusions. In this viewpoint, we highlight the key role of rigorous and transparent statistical methodology in the studies of observational data and encourage its thorough editorial scrutiny.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, and Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalincik
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sormani
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Disease-modifying therapies; treatment response