What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of literature published between 2010 and 2020 to identify and evaluate reported outcome measures in necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTI) that could inform a core outcome set.
What They Found
The review identified 375 studies and a total of 311 outcome measures, with 48% (150/311) reported by two or more studies. The most frequently reported outcomes were mortality (79.5% of studies), length of hospital stay (69.3%), amputation (41.6%), and number of debridements (40.3%).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This systematic review highlights the current inconsistencies in how outcomes for necrotising soft tissue infections are reported, making it difficult to compare study results and assess treatment effectiveness. Establishing a core outcome set would standardize reporting, potentially leading to clearer evidence for Canadian clinicians and improved treatment decisions for patients.
Canadian Relevance
This study did not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The findings of this systematic review are inherently limited by the heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting of outcome measures across the included studies.