Table 1.
Frequencies of outcomes across RCTs for AUB and their importance in clinical decision making
| Outcome | Frequency of outcome reporting, N (within 79 RCTs for AUB) | GRADE score (1–9) | Outcome importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bleeding | |||
| Pictorial diary (PBAC) | 22 | 8 | C |
| Bleeding diary | 4 | 8 | C |
| Duration of menses/duration of cycle | 20 | 7 | C |
| Bleeding score | 6 | 8 | C |
| Blood loss evaluation with sanitary napkins with use of alkaline haematin at 550nm | 15 | 5 | I |
| Menstrual changes (amenorrhea, hypomenorrhea, eumenorrhea) | 25 | 7 | C |
| Total menstrual fluid loss | 5 | 5 | I |
| Sanitary-towel count | 7 | 6 | I |
| Monthly blood loss index | 2 | 7 | C |
| Amenorrhea | 32 | 7 | C |
| QOL | |||
| Menstrual impact questionnaire | 1 | 7 | C |
| Menorrhagia QOL | 2 | 7 | C |
| Fibroid QOL | 3 | 7 | C |
| SF-36 | 19 | 6 | I |
| SF-12 | 3 | 5 | I |
| Euro QOL-5d | 5 | 5 | I |
| Psychosocial adjustment to illness scale | 2 | 5 | I |
| Health utility Index Mark-3 | 1 | 5 | I |
| Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory | 2 | 4 | I |
| Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale | 3 | 4 | I |
| Beck’s depression inventory | 1 | 4 | I |
| Eysenck personality questionnaire | 1 | 4 | I |
| Pain | |||
| Pelvic pain | 19 | 7 | C |
| Dysmenorrhea | 21 | 7 | C |
| Abdominal pain | 5 | 6 | I |
| Low-back pain | 5 | 5 | I |
| Sexual health | |||
| Return to sexual activity | 5 | 5 | I |
| Sexual activity | 6 | 5 | I |
| Body image/sexuality | 2 | 6 | I |
| Revised Sabbatsberg Sexual Rating Scale | 1 | 5 | I |
| McCoy Sex Scale | 1 | 5 | I |
| Golombok Rust inventory of marital state | 1 | 5 | I |
| Decreased libido | 3 | 4 | I |
| Dyspareunia | 8 | 5 | I |
| Sexual satisfaction | 4 | 5 | I |
| Bulk-related symptoms | |||
| Pelvic pressure—fibroids | 9 | 8 | C |
| Pelvic pressure—DUB | 1 | 6 | I |
| Defecatory dysfunction—fibroids | 2 | 5 | I |
| Defecatory dysfunction—DUB | 1 | 4 | I |
| Bowel symptoms—fibroids | 1 | 5 | I |
| Bowel symptoms—DUB | 2 | 4 | I |
| Urinary symptoms—fibroids | 5 | 5 | I |
| Urinary symptoms—DUB | 3 | 4 | I |
| Patient satisfaction | |||
| Satisfaction | 35 | 6 | I |
| Recommending the treatment to a friend | 8 | 6 | I |
| Additional treatments | |||
| Hysterectomy | 25 | 8 | C |
| Other than hysterectomy | 26 | 7 | C |
Abbreviations: RCT, randomized controlled trial; GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation; PBAC, Pictoral Blood Assessment Chart; QOL, quality of life; SF-36 and SF-12, Medical Outcomes Study—Short-Form 36 and Short-Form 12; DUB, dysfunctional uterine bleeding; C, “critical” for clinical decision making—GRADE group nomenclature (scores of 7–9); I, “important” for clinical decision making—GRADE group nomenclature (scores of 4–6).
Outcomes of low importance and specific adverse events are not included.