Understand low-quality evidence: learn from food chains

Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation process of toxic substances through food chains. Species on top of food chains are the most severely affected ones. Such a principle is also applicable in evidence-based medicine. Evidence from systematic reviews is considered the top of the pyramid in evidence-based medicine. However, the quality of the evidence from systematic reviews relies on the quality of evidence from the primary randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Bias and other concerns in the primary RCTs, as well as the evidence synthesis process, will affect the validity of results in subsequent systematic reviews.
Source: Fertility and Sterility - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Reflections Source Type: research