Assessing the completeness of reporting of exercise-based interventions in cardiovascular trials

Study ObjectiveIn cardiology, the reporting of interventions is insufficiently detailed to elicit replication. Specifically for cardiovascular rehabilitation (CVR) trials, the quality of the description of its exercise-based interventions (EBI) is poorly known. Our primary objective is to estimate the adherence of EBI of CVR trials to TIDieR reporting guideline. Secondarily, we tested whether the CVR setting would be associated with a better reporting, also exploring whether transparency and methodological characteristics could be related. Design and SettingThis cross-sectional study analysed 96 trials with EBI published within CVR literature. For our primary objective, TIDieR reporting guideline was accounted as a reference to assess overall adherence of eligible RCTs. For our secondary objectives we used generalised estimating equations to point out (a) if intervention setting (eg, home-based vs. centre-based) was associated with intervention reporting, and (b) if trials transparency and methodological characteristics would be associated with intervention reporting. ResultsOn average, arms adequately reported 4.8/12 (SD=2.4) TIDieR items. 65.07% of our EBI arms failed to adequately report [≥] 6 TIDieR items. Three of 146 (2.05%) arms adhered to all 12 TIDieR items. Additionally, intervention setting was not associated with a better description. ConclusionsWe concluded that EBIs in CVR lack to report fundamental aspects of the interventions to be replicated by third parties based on their reports. O_TEXTBOXHighlights O_LIWe found an inadequate and insufficient exercise-based interventions reporting of cardiovascular rehabilitation trials. C_LIO_LIOverall, about 40% of TIDieR reporting guideline adherence was found, with most interventions reporting its items improperly. C_LIO_LIExercise-based intervention care setting (home- and centre-based) have no association with a better intervention description. C_LIO_LIStudies with 2 or more EBI arms are associated with a poor TIDieR adherence. C_LIO_LIPublishers and Editorial committees may guide cardiology journals for a better intervention reporting. C_LI C_TEXTBOX