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Beware of Surrogate Outcome Measures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Peter C. Gøtzsche ,
Alessandro Liberati ,
Valter Torri  and
Luca Rossetti
Peter C. Gøtzsche
Affiliation:
The Nordic Cochrane Centre
Alessandro Liberati
Affiliation:
The Italian Cochrane Centre
Valter Torri
Affiliation:
The Italian Cochrane Centre
Luca Rossetti
Affiliation:
Clinica Oculistica
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Abstract

Surrogate outcome measures may speed up clinical research if they can be measured earlier in a study than the primary outcome of interest. We review the justification for their use and conclude that reliance on them may be harmful. Results obtained with surrogates should therefore be regarded as preliminary. Large, definitive trials with clinically relevant outcomes should always be performed before new interventions are accepted.

Type
Special Section: The Quality of the Medical Evidence: Is It Good Enough?
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , Spring 1996 , pp. 238 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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