Table 3.
Cross-sectional study quality.
| Research question clear? | Study population clear? (including without date and place) | Criteria same within both groups? | Sample size calculation? | Exposure measures clear, reliable and valid? Implemented consistently? | Outcome measures clear, reliable and valid? Implemented consistently? | Blinded assessment of FMD? | Follow-up after baseline 20% or less? | Key potential confounding variables considered? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeVan et al., 2013 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | NR | Y | Y |
| Eskurza et al., 2005 | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Franzoni et al., 2005 | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | NR | Y | Y |
| Galetta et al., 2006 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | NR | Y | Y |
| Grace et al., 2015 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Jensen-Urstad et al., 1999 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | NR | Y | Y |
| Pierce et al., 2011a | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pierce et al., 2011b | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Walker et al., 2009 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NR | Y | Y |
| Eskurza et al., 2004 | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Study quality assessment of the cross-sectional studies included in question 1 developed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort Cross-Sectional Studies, 2014). Y, yes; N, no; NR, not reported.