Maria A Silva1, Gonçalo S Duarte1, Raquel Camara1, Filipe B Rodrigues1, Ricardo M Fernandes1, Daisy Abreu1, Tiago Mestre1, João Costa1, Claudia Trenkwalder1, Joaquim J Ferreira2. 1. From the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (M.A.S., G.S.D., R.C., F.B.R., R.M.F., D.A., J.C., J.J.F.), Portuguese Collaborating Center of the IberoAmerican Cochrane Network, Cochrane Portugal (G.S.D., R.M.F., J.C.), and Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (J.C.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon; Clinical Pharmacology Unit (M.A.S., G.S.D., R.C., F.B.R., R.M.F., D.A., J.C., J.J.F.), Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal; Huntington's Disease Centre (F.B.R.), Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center (T.M.), Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Canada; Paracelsus-Elena Klinik (C.T.), Center of Parkinsonism and Movement Disorders, Kassel; and the Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.), University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany. 2. From the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (M.A.S., G.S.D., R.C., F.B.R., R.M.F., D.A., J.C., J.J.F.), Portuguese Collaborating Center of the IberoAmerican Cochrane Network, Cochrane Portugal (G.S.D., R.M.F., J.C.), and Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (J.C.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon; Clinical Pharmacology Unit (M.A.S., G.S.D., R.C., F.B.R., R.M.F., D.A., J.C., J.J.F.), Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal; Huntington's Disease Centre (F.B.R.), Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center (T.M.), Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Canada; Paracelsus-Elena Klinik (C.T.), Center of Parkinsonism and Movement Disorders, Kassel; and the Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.), University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany. jferreira@medicina.ulisboa.pt.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the placebo and nocebo responses in restless legs syndrome (RLS) and explore their determinants. METHODS: Databases were searched up to October 2015. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of patients with RLS were included if quantitative data were extractable in the placebo arm. Placebo response was defined as the within-group change from baseline, using any scale measuring RLS severity or disability. Nocebo response was defined as the proportion of patients experiencing adverse events in the placebo arm. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool data. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistic. Several predetermined subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed. PROSPERO registration number is CRD42015027992. RESULTS: We included 85 randomized controlled trials (5,046 participants). Pooled placebo response effect size was -1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.56 to -1.25, 64 trials, I2 = 88.1%), corresponding to -6.58 points in the International RLS Study Group Scale (IRLS). Pooled nocebo response was 45.36% (95% CI 40.47%-50.29%, 72 trials; I2 = 89.8%). The placebo and nocebo responses were greater in trials with longer duration, evaluating pharmacologic interventions and idiopathic RLS, and in industry-funded and unpublished studies. The placebo response was considerably smaller in objective as compared to subjective outcomes. In addition, the nocebo response increases proportionally with the placebo response, and has the same predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of the placebo response in RLS is above the threshold of minimal clinical important difference, and the frequency of adverse events is also considerable. These results are relevant to inform the design and interpretation of future clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the placebo and nocebo responses in restless legs syndrome (RLS) and explore their determinants. METHODS: Databases were searched up to October 2015. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of patients with RLS were included if quantitative data were extractable in the placebo arm. Placebo response was defined as the within-group change from baseline, using any scale measuring RLS severity or disability. Nocebo response was defined as the proportion of patients experiencing adverse events in the placebo arm. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool data. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistic. Several predetermined subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed. PROSPERO registration number is CRD42015027992. RESULTS: We included 85 randomized controlled trials (5,046 participants). Pooled placebo response effect size was -1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.56 to -1.25, 64 trials, I2 = 88.1%), corresponding to -6.58 points in the International RLS Study Group Scale (IRLS). Pooled nocebo response was 45.36% (95% CI 40.47%-50.29%, 72 trials; I2 = 89.8%). The placebo and nocebo responses were greater in trials with longer duration, evaluating pharmacologic interventions and idiopathic RLS, and in industry-funded and unpublished studies. The placebo response was considerably smaller in objective as compared to subjective outcomes. In addition, the nocebo response increases proportionally with the placebo response, and has the same predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of the placebo response in RLS is above the threshold of minimal clinical important difference, and the frequency of adverse events is also considerable. These results are relevant to inform the design and interpretation of future clinical trials.
Authors: Gonçalo S Duarte; Filipe B Rodrigues; Raquel E Marques; Mafalda Castelão; Joaquim Ferreira; Cristina Sampaio; Austen P Moore; João Costa Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-11-19
Authors: Filipe B Rodrigues; Gonçalo S Duarte; Mafalda Castelão; Raquel E Marques; Joaquim Ferreira; Cristina Sampaio; Austen P Moore; João Costa Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-04-14
Authors: Filipe B Rodrigues; Gonçalo S Duarte; Raquel E Marques; Mafalda Castelão; Joaquim Ferreira; Cristina Sampaio; Austen P Moore; João Costa Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-11-12
Authors: Gonçalo S Duarte; Filipe B Rodrigues; Mafalda Castelão; Raquel E Marques; Joaquim Ferreira; Cristina Sampaio; Austen P Moore; João Costa Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-11-19