Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
Disease burden should help guide research prioritization. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2010 compiled data from 1990 to 2010 on 291 diseases and injuries, 1160 disease and injury sequelae, and 67 risk factors in 187 countries. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) is the leading resource for systematic reviews in healthcare, with peer-reviewed systematic reviews that are published by Cochrane Review Groups.
Objectives:
To determine whether systematic review and protocol topics in CDSR reflect disease burden, measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from the GBD 2010 project. This is one of a series of projects mapping GBD 2010 medical field disease burdens to corresponding systematic reviews in CDSR.
Methods:
Two investigators independently assessed eight ophthalmologic conditions in CDSR for systematic review and protocol representation according to subject content. The eight diseases were matched to their respective DALYs from GBD 2010 (Table I, Figure 1).
Results:
All eight ophthalmologic conditions were represented by at least one systematic review in CDSR; 84% of the systematic reviews and protocols that focused on these conditions were from the Eyes and Vision Group. Comparing the number of reviews and protocols with disability, only cataracts was well-matched; glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other vision loss were over-represented. In comparison, trachoma, onchocerciasis, vitamin A deficiency, and refraction and accommodation disorders were under-represented.
Conclusions:
These results prompt further investigation into why certain diseases are over or under-represented in CDSR relative to their DALY. With regard to ophthalmologic conditions, this study encourages that certain conditions should get more focus to create a better representation of what is causing the most disability and mortality within this research database. Our results provide good quality and transparent data to inform future prioritization decisions.
Disease burden should help guide research prioritization. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2010 compiled data from 1990 to 2010 on 291 diseases and injuries, 1160 disease and injury sequelae, and 67 risk factors in 187 countries. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) is the leading resource for systematic reviews in healthcare, with peer-reviewed systematic reviews that are published by Cochrane Review Groups.
Objectives:
To determine whether systematic review and protocol topics in CDSR reflect disease burden, measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from the GBD 2010 project. This is one of a series of projects mapping GBD 2010 medical field disease burdens to corresponding systematic reviews in CDSR.
Methods:
Two investigators independently assessed eight ophthalmologic conditions in CDSR for systematic review and protocol representation according to subject content. The eight diseases were matched to their respective DALYs from GBD 2010 (Table I, Figure 1).
Results:
All eight ophthalmologic conditions were represented by at least one systematic review in CDSR; 84% of the systematic reviews and protocols that focused on these conditions were from the Eyes and Vision Group. Comparing the number of reviews and protocols with disability, only cataracts was well-matched; glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other vision loss were over-represented. In comparison, trachoma, onchocerciasis, vitamin A deficiency, and refraction and accommodation disorders were under-represented.
Conclusions:
These results prompt further investigation into why certain diseases are over or under-represented in CDSR relative to their DALY. With regard to ophthalmologic conditions, this study encourages that certain conditions should get more focus to create a better representation of what is causing the most disability and mortality within this research database. Our results provide good quality and transparent data to inform future prioritization decisions.