Conclusions The effects of testosterone on cardiovascular-related events varied with source of funding .
Nevertheless , overall and particularly in trials not funded by the pharmaceutical industry , exogenous testosterone increased the risk of cardiovascular-related events , with corresponding implication s for the use of testosterone therapy
Background Testosterone therapy is increasingly promoted .
No r and omized placebo-controlled trial has been implemented to assess the effect of testosterone therapy on cardiovascular events , although very high levels of and rogens are thought to promote cardiovascular disease .
Association between industry funding and statistically significant pro-industry findings in medical and surgical randomized trials.
BACKGROUND Conflicting reports exist in the medical literature regarding the association between industry funding and published research findings . In this study , we examine the association between industry funding and the statistical significance of results in recently published medical and surgical trials . METHODS We examined a consecutive series of 332 r and omized trials published between January 1999 and June 2001 in 8 leading surgical journals and 5 medical journals . Each eligible study was independently review ed for method ological quality using a 21-point index with 5 domains : r and omization , outcomes , eligibility criteria , interventions and statistical issues . Our primary analysis included studies that explicitly identified the primary outcome and reported it as statistically significant . For studies that did not explicitly identify a primary outcome , we defined a " positive " study as one with at least 1 statistically significant outcome measure . We used multivariable regression analysis to determine whether there was an association between reported industry funding and trial results , while controlling for study quality and sample size . RESULTS Among the 332 r and omized trials , there were 158 drug trials , 87 surgical trials and 87 trials of other therapies . In 122 ( 37 % ) of the trials , authors declared industry funding . An unadjusted analysis of this sample of trials revealed that industry funding was associated with a statistically significant result in favour of the new industry product ( odds ratio [ OR ] 1.9 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 1.3 - 3.5 ) . The association remained significant after adjustment for study quality and sample size ( adjusted OR 1.8 , 95 % CI 1.1 - 3.0 ) . There was a nonsignificant difference between surgical trials ( OR 8.0 , 95 % CI 1.1 - 53.2 ) and drug trials ( OR 1.6 , 95 % CI 1.1 - 2.8 ) , both of which were likely to have a pro-industry result ( relative OR 5.0 , 95 % CI 0.7 - 37.5 , p = 0.14 ) . INTERPRETATION Industry-funded trials are more likely to be associated with statistically significant pro-industry findings , both in medical trials and surgical interventions
Conclusions The effects of testosterone on cardiovascular-related events varied with source of funding .
Nevertheless , overall and particularly in trials not funded by the pharmaceutical industry , exogenous testosterone increased the risk of cardiovascular-related events , with corresponding implication s for the use of testosterone therapy
Background Testosterone therapy is increasingly promoted .
No r and omized placebo-controlled trial has been implemented to assess the effect of testosterone therapy on cardiovascular events , although very high levels of and rogens are thought to promote cardiovascular disease .