Peter Arnold, BMJ Blog 2010
Misuse of confidence intervals threatens conclusions
Christopher J Cates ( 19 May 2007)
Published letter in response to Ong HT. beta blockers in hypertension and cardiovascular disease. BMJ 2007;334:946-9.
There is no heterogeneity between steroids and antihistamines
Christopher J Cates (14 January 2007)
[Rapid Response to: John Fletcher. What is heterogeneity and is it important? BMJ 2007; 334: 94-96 ]
There is no significant difference between antibiotics
Christopher J Cates (4 August 2006)
BMJ 2006 333: 395
[Published letter re: B Arroll and T Kenealy. Are antibiotics effective for acute purulent rhinitis? Systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo controlled randomised trials. BMJ 2006; 333: 279 [Full text]]
Low response rates generate considerable uncertainty
Christopher J Cates (14 December 2005)
BMJ 2006 332: 178
[Published letter re: De-Kun Li, Marian Willinger, Diana B Petitti, Roxana Odouli, Liyan Liu, and Howard J Hoffman Use of a dummy (pacifier) during sleep and risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): population based case-control study. BMJ 2006; 332: 18-22 [Full text] ]
The trials differ too much to make indirect comparisons
Christopher J Cates (9 December 2003)
[Rapid Response to: Eric Lim, Ziad Ali, Ayyaz Ali, Tom Routledge, Lyn Edmonds, Douglas G Altman, and Stephen Large. Indirect comparison meta-analysis of aspirin therapy after coronary surgery. BMJ 2003; 327: 1309 [Abstract] [Full text] ]
Cross-sectional surveys cannot assess causation
Christopher Cates (7 November 2001)
[Rapid Response to: Patricia Priest, Patricia Yudkin, Cliodna McNulty, David Mant, and Richard Wise. Antibacterial prescribing and antibacterial resistance in English general practice: cross sectional study BMJ 2001; 323: 1037-1041 [Abstract] [Full text] ]
Authors should make their data available
Douglas G Altman and Christopher Cates
BMJ, Nov 2001; 323: 1069
Extracts from "Clinical Evidence": Chronic asthma
Christopher Cates
BMJ, Oct 2001; 323: 976 - 979
Why isn't titration advocated more often in delivery of inhaled drugs?
Christopher Cates
BMJ 2001;322:1546 ( 23 June )
[Published Letter re: Keeley D. Higher dose inhaled corticosteroids in childhood asthma. BMJ 2001; 322: 504-505[Full Text]. (3 March.)]
An alternative for air-driven nebulisers in acute asthma in the community
Christopher Cates (23 Aug 2001)
[Rapid Response to: David Inwald, Mark Roland, Lieske Kuitert, Sheila A McKenzie, and Andy Petros. Oxygen treatment for acute severe asthma. BMJ 2001; 323: 98-100 [Full text] ]
David Brocklebank, John Wright, and Christopher Cates
BMJ, Oct 2001; 323: 896
How do we decide between warfarin and aspirin?
Christopher Cates
BMJ 2001;323:233 ( 28 July )
[Published Letter on: Taylor FC, Cohen H, Ebrahim S. Systematic review of long term anticoagulation or antiplatelet treatment in patients with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation. BMJ 2001; 322: 321-326[Abstract/ Full Text]. (10 February.)]
Flying might be associated with blood clots
Christopher Cates (14 November 2000)
[Rapid response to: Minerva. BMJ 2000; 321: 1166 [Full text] ]
Scales for visual test of publication bias are unfair
Christopher Cates
BMJ 2000;321:1221 ( 11 November )
[Published Letter on: Copas JB, Shi JQ. Reanalysis of epidemiological evidence of lung cancer and passive smoking. BMJ 2000; 320: 417-418[Abstract/ Full Text]. (12 February.) ]
Care is required with cost effectiveness approach
Christopher Cates
BMJ 2000;321:449 ( 12 August )
[Published Letter on: Taylor FC, Ebrahim S. Using anticoagulation or aspirin to prevent stroke. BMJ 2000; 320: 1010. (8 April.)]
Studies included in meta-analysis had heterogenous, not homogenous, results
Christopher Cates
BMJ 2000;320:1208 ( 29 April )
[Published Letter on: Jaakkimainen RL, Boyle E, Tudiver F. Is Helicobacter pylori associated with non-ulcer dyspepsia and will eradication improve symptoms? A meta-analysis.BMJ 1999; 319: 1040-1044[Abstract/Full Text]. (16 October.)]
A paper that changed our practice: Which postcoital contraceptive?
Christopher Cates
BMJ 2000;321:664 ( 16 September )
Suitable formulations of oral glucocorticoids are available in primary care
Christopher Cates
BMJ 1999;319:1577 ( 11 December )
[Published Letter about: Ausejo M, Saenz A, Pham Ba', Kellner JD, Johnson DW, Moher D, et al. The effectiveness of glucocorticoids in treating croup: meta-analysis. BMJ 1999; 319: 595-600[Abstract/ Full Text]. (4 September.)]
Christopher Cates
BMJ 1999;318:715-716 ( 13 March )
Pooling numbers needed to treat may not be reliable
Christopher Cates
BMJ 1999;318:1764 ( 26 June )
[Published Letter about: Altman DG. Confidence intervals for the number needed to treat. BMJ 1998; 317: 1309-1312[ Full Text]. (7 November.)
Data do not justify study's conclusions
Christopher Cates
BMJ 1998;317:1014 ( 10 October )
[Published Letter about:
Chapman S. The hot air on passive smoking. BMJ 1998; 316: 945[ Full Text]. (21 March.)
Fahey T, Stocks N, Thomas T. Quantitative systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing antibiotic with placebo for acute cough in adults. BMJ 1998; 316: 906-910[Abstract/ Full Text]. (21 March.) ]