Title and abstract |
1.1 Indicate the study’s design with a commonly used term in the title or the abstract |
6 (27.3%) |
1.2 Provide in the abstract an informative and balanced summary of what was done and what was found |
16 (72.7%) |
Introduction |
Background/rationale |
2 Explain the scientific background and rationale for the investigation being reported |
17 (77.3%) |
Objectives |
3 State specific objectives, including any prespecified hypotheses |
18 (81.8%) |
Methods |
Study desin |
4 Present key elemens of study design early in the paper |
15 (68.2%) |
Setting |
5 Describe the setting, locations, and relevant dates, including periods of recruitment, exposure, follow-up, and data collection |
20 (90.9%) |
Participants |
6.1 Give the eligibility criteria, and the sources and methods of ascertainment, and control selection. Give the rationale for the choice of cases and controls |
11 (50.0%) |
|
6.2 For matched studies, give matching criteria and the number of controls per case |
10 (45.5%) |
Variables |
7 Clearly define all outcomes, exposures, predictors, potential confounders, and effect modifiers. Give diagnostic criteria, if applicable |
10 (45.5%) |
Datasources/measurement |
8 For each variable of interest, give sources of data and details of methods of assessment (measurement). Describe comparability of assessment methods if there is more than one group |
12 (54.5%) |
Bias |
9 Describe any efforts to address potential sources of bias |
3 (13.6%) |
Study size |
10 Explain how the study size was arrived at |
0 (0) |
Quantitative variables |
11 Explain how quantitative variables were handled in the analyses. If applicable, describe which groupings were chosen and why |
11 (50.0%) |
Statistical methods |
12.1 Describe all statistical methods, including those used to control for confounding |
16 (72.7%) |
|
12.2 Describe any methods used to examine subgroups and interactions |
14 (63.6%) |
|
12.3 Explain how missing data were addressed |
9 (40.9%) |
|
12.4 If applicable, explain how matching of cases and controls was addressed 12.5 Describe any sensitivity analyses |
11 (50.0%) |
Results |
|
|
Participants |
13.1 Report numbers of individuals at each stage of study (eg numbers potentially eligible, examined for eligibility, confirmed eligible, included in the study, completing follow-up, and analysed) |
16 (72.7%) |
|
13.2 Give reasons for non-participation at each stage |
8 (36.4%) |
|
13.3 Consider use of a flow diagram |
2 (9.1%) |
Descriptive data |
14.1 Give characteristics of study participants (eg demographic, clinical, social) and information on exposures and potential confounders |
13 (59.1) |
|
14.2 Indicate number of participants with missing data for each variable of interest |
9 (40.9%) |
Outcome data |
15 Report numbers in each exposure category, or summary measures of exposure |
17 (77.3%) |
|
16.1 Give unadjusted estimates and, if applicable, confounder-adjusted estimates and their precision (eg 95% confidence interval). Make clear which confounders were adjusted for and why they were included |
12 (54.5%) |
|
16.2 Report category boundaries when continuous variables were categorized |
14 (63.6%) |
|
16.3 If relevant, consider translating estimates of relative risk into absolute risk for a meaningful time period |
6 (27.3%) |
Other analyses |
17 Report other analyses done (eg analyses of subgroups and interactions, and sensitivity analyses) |
7 (31.8%) |
Discusion |
Key results |
18 Summarise key results with reference to study objectives |
22 (100%) |
Limitations |
19 Discuss limitations of the study, taking into account sources of potential bias or imprecision. Discuss both direction and magnitude of any potential bias |
12 (54.5%) |
Interpretation |
20 Give a cautious overall interpretation of results considering objectives, limitations, multiplicity of analyses, results from similar studies, and other relevant evidence |
11 (50.0%) |
Generalisability |
21 Discuss the generalisability (external validity) of the study results |
7 (12.7%) |
Other information |
|
|
Funding |
22 Give the source of funding and the role of the funders for the present study and, if applicable, for the original study on which the present article is based |
9 (40.9%) |