Table 4

Risk of bias assessment per randomised controlled trial (degarelix)

CS21CS28CS30CS31CS35CS37
Random sequence generationLow risk*Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)
Allocation concealmentLow risk†Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)
Blinding of participants and personnel: mortality, PSA progressionLow risk‡Unclear risk (NR)Low risk‡Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)
Blinding of participants and personnel: adverse events, treatment failure, quality of lifeHigh risk§High risk§High risk§High risk§High risk§High risk§
Blinding of outcome assessment: Mortality, PSA progressionLow risk‡Unclear risk (NR)Low risk‡Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)
Blinding of outcome assessment: Adverse events, treatment failure, quality of lifeHigh risk§High risk§High risk§High risk§High risk§High risk§
Incomplete outcome data: mortality, PSA progressionLow risk¶Unclear risk (NR)Low risk¶Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)
Incomplete outcome data: adverse events, treatment failure, quality of lifeLow risk¶Unclear risk (NR)Low risk¶Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)Unclear risk (NR)
Selective reportingLow risk**High risk††Low risk**Low risk**High risk††High risk††
  • *Random number generator (computer programme).

  • †Central allocation.

  • ‡Open-label study but personnel were unaware of blood values.

  • §Open-label study but results are likely to be influenced by lack of blinding.

  • ¶Missing outcome data balanced in numbers across intervention groups.

  • **The study protocol is available and all outcomes that are of interest have been reported.

  • ††Adverse events are reported incompletely or study report fails to include results for this outcome.

  • NR, not reported; PSA, prostate-specific antigen.