Asthma research and randomized controlled trials: a remarkable phenomenon

Abstract

Background. Time trends in the number of publications of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in asthma research have never been evaluated. Methods. A PubMed database scan was made to identify publications in asthma research per year since 1990 until 1 January 2010, using the term ‘asthma’. The total number of publications was ascertained, as was the number when restricting the search strategy to RCTs only. Results. The total number of publications in asthma research increased from 2240 per year in 1990 to 5601 per year in 2009. The number of publications of RCTs in asthma research was 198 per year in 1990 and 233 per year in 2009. Discussion. The remarkable phenomenon of an almost unchanged number of publications of RCTs in asthma research per year in the period 1990-2009 may be explained by criticism to RCTs in asthma research. Conclusion. Despite an increase in total publications of asthma research, time trends in the number of publications of RCTs in asthma research per year show an almost unchanged number in the period 1990-2009. Evidence-based medicine within the field of asthma still faces many challenges.

• asthma research
• evidence-based medicine
• randomized controlled trials

Acknowledgments

Hafkamp-de Groen had the original idea for this letter and is responsible for data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, and writing the letter. Raat critically revised the letter for important intellectual content.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.