Article type
Abstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health problem globally, with an extensive amount of literature —sometimes redundant or irrelevant— that often overwhelms clinicians and makes it challenging to stay up to date. To enhance the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of healthcare and ultimately benefit patients, it is crucial that clinical research addresses highly pertinent health questions and outcomes. In Chile, T2DM is a prioritised condition by the health system due to its high burden of disease. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether local research is assessing relevant questions for the local context.
Objective: To map Chilean clinical research on T2DM and to identify and characterise research gaps.
Methods: As part of a broader scoping review aiming to identify all Chilean clinical research (i.e. conducted in Chile or authored by Chileans) from 2000 onwards, we selected the studies assessing T2DM. We searched six electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS, and WoS), and conducted a thorough hand-search. Simultaneously, we constructed an evidence matrix by identifying relevant interventions and outcomes from local guidelines, international research, and Core Outcome Set (COS) from the COMET (‘Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials’) initiative. The matrices were populated with the retrieved Chilean research, performing an evidence map for intervention studies with knowledge gaps and redundant research. The final maps were graphed by an interactive platform.
Results: Out of 12216 included studies for the broader scoping review, 72 were plotted in the evidence map. The main interventions assessed were exercise, glinides and GLP-1 agonists. ‘Glycaemic control’ was the outcome most frequently assessed. Local evidence gaps were identified for the following interventions: ADP receptor agonists, metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, smoking cessation, and bile acid sequestrants of thiazolidinediones. We did not identify studies assessing the outcomes ‘cerebrovascular disease’ and ‘hyperglycaemic complications’. Figure 1 provides a graphical display of the evidence map.
Conclusion: Chilean studies focus greatly on glycaemic related outcomes, and, despite the extensive clinical research on T2DM in Chile, significant knowledge gaps persist. The developed map serves as a strategic tool to steer future research endeavours and allocate funding effectively.
Objective: To map Chilean clinical research on T2DM and to identify and characterise research gaps.
Methods: As part of a broader scoping review aiming to identify all Chilean clinical research (i.e. conducted in Chile or authored by Chileans) from 2000 onwards, we selected the studies assessing T2DM. We searched six electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS, and WoS), and conducted a thorough hand-search. Simultaneously, we constructed an evidence matrix by identifying relevant interventions and outcomes from local guidelines, international research, and Core Outcome Set (COS) from the COMET (‘Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials’) initiative. The matrices were populated with the retrieved Chilean research, performing an evidence map for intervention studies with knowledge gaps and redundant research. The final maps were graphed by an interactive platform.
Results: Out of 12216 included studies for the broader scoping review, 72 were plotted in the evidence map. The main interventions assessed were exercise, glinides and GLP-1 agonists. ‘Glycaemic control’ was the outcome most frequently assessed. Local evidence gaps were identified for the following interventions: ADP receptor agonists, metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, smoking cessation, and bile acid sequestrants of thiazolidinediones. We did not identify studies assessing the outcomes ‘cerebrovascular disease’ and ‘hyperglycaemic complications’. Figure 1 provides a graphical display of the evidence map.
Conclusion: Chilean studies focus greatly on glycaemic related outcomes, and, despite the extensive clinical research on T2DM in Chile, significant knowledge gaps persist. The developed map serves as a strategic tool to steer future research endeavours and allocate funding effectively.