title: Choosing Important Health Outcomes for Comparative Effectiveness Research: An Updated Review and Identification of Gaps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The COMET (Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials) Initiative promotes the development and application of core outcome sets (COS), including relevant studies in an online database. In order to keep the database current, an annual search of the literature is undertaken. This study aimed to update a previous systematic review, in order to identify any further studies where a COS has been developed. Furthermore, no prioritization for COS development has previously been undertaken, therefore this study also aimed to identify COS relevant to the world's most prevalent health conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methods used in this updated review followed the same approach used in the original review and the previous update. A survey was also sent to the corresponding authors of COS identified for inclusion in this review, to ascertain what lessons they had learnt from developing their COS. Additionally, the COMET database was searched to identify COS that might be relevant to the conditions with the highest global prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five reports relating to 22 new studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. Further improvements were identified in relation to the description of the scope of the COS, use of the Delphi technique, and the inclusion of patient participants within the development process. Additionally, 33 published and ongoing COS were identified for 13 of the world's most prevalent conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of a reporting guideline and minimum standards should contribute towards future improvements in development and reporting of COS. This study has also described a first approach to identifying gaps in existing COS, and to priority setting in this area. Important gaps have been identified, on the basis of global burden of disease, and the development and application of COS in these areas should be considered a priority.
authors.affiliation: MRC North West Hub for Trials Methodology Research (NWHTMR), Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gorst
authors.affiliation: MRC North West Hub for Trials Methodology Research (NWHTMR), Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gargon
authors.affiliation: Northern Ireland Network for Trials Methodology Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: MRC North West Hub for Trials Methodology Research (NWHTMR), Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paula R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires