Table 3.
Methods used to deal with missing primary outcome data in included published randomised controlled trials
Method used to deal with missing data | Frequency of use in RCTs in: | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Alzheimer’s disease (n = 47) |
Parkinson’s disease (n = 31) | |||
n | % | n | % | |
Complete-case analysis | 14 | 30 | 11 | 35 |
Survival analysis | 3 | 6 | 10 | 32 |
Last observation carried forward | 16 | 34 | 6 | 19 |
Mixed model | 18 | 38 | 4 | 13 |
Data imputation | 7 | 15 | 4 | 13 |
Twelve AD trials did not report any information regarding how missing data was dealt with, four used two methods and two used three methods and one used four methods. Five Parkinson’s disease trials did not report any information regarding how missing data was dealt with and four used two methods