Identifying otolaryngology systematic review research gaps: comparing Global Burden of Disease 2010 results with Cochrane Database of Systematic Review content

Hannah Pederson; Tyler Okland; Lindsay N Boyers; Chante Karimkhani; Richard M Rosenfeld; Mona Nasser; Sze Lin Yoong; Luke Wolfenden; Hmwe H Kyu; Peter T Serina; Megan Coggeshall; Robert P Dellavalle

doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2014.2700

Identifying otolaryngology systematic review research gaps: comparing Global Burden of Disease 2010 results with Cochrane Database of Systematic Review content

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Jan;141(1):67-72. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2014.2700.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora.
² Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.
³ Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
⁴ Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
⁵ Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth University, Plymouth, England.
⁶ Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia7School of Medicine and Public Health, the University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ School of Medicine and Public Health, the University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
⁸ Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
⁹ Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora10Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora11Dermatology Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.

PMID: 25356671
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2014.2700

Abstract

Importance: Burden of disease should inform research prioritization.

Objective: To determine whether systematic reviews and protocols published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) appropriately reflect disease burden for otolaryngologic conditions as measured by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 project.

Design: Two investigators independently assessed 10 otolaryngologic conditions in CDSR for systematic review and protocol representation from March to June 2014. The otolaryngologic diseases were matched to their respective GBD 2010 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) to assess their correlation.

Main outcomes and measures: Relationship of CDSR representation (based on systematic reviews and protocols) with percentage of total 2010 DALYs, 2010 DALY rank, and DALY percentage change from 1990 to 2010 for 10 otolaryngologic conditions.

Results: All 10 otolaryngologic conditions were represented by at least 1 systematic review in CDSR. The number of reviews and protocols in CDSR was well matched with GBD 2010 disability metrics for only 1 disease, mouth cancer. Upper respiratory infections, otitis media, thyroid cancer, and cleft lip and cleft palate were overrepresented in CDSR, and esophageal cancer, "other hearing loss," nasopharynx cancer, larynx cancer, and "cancer of other part of pharynx and oropharynx" were underrepresented.

Conclusions and relevance: The representation of otolaryngologic conditions in CDSR correlates poorly with DALY metrics. The results of this study may guide future research prioritization and allocation of funds.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Cost of Illness*
Databases, Factual*
Humans
Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases* / epidemiology
Systematic Reviews as Topic*