The Enduring Table 1 Fallacy: A Meta-research Study of Baseline Testing in Anesthesiology and Pain Trials
Authors' conclusion
Despite methodologic guidance and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) recommendations, statistical testing of baseline characteristics remains common in anesthesiology RCTs and has not declined over time.
Study context
- Population
- Parallel-group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published 1996–2025 in 101 Scopus "Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine" journalseligible RCTs
- Participants
- 2,453 rcts
- Outcome
- Reporting of statistical testing of baseline characteristics
Methodological detailsparallel-group RCTs, 101 journals, 1996 to 2025
- Parallel-group RCTs
- 101 journals
- 1996 to 2025
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
RCTs reporting statistical testing of baseline characteristics
RCTs reporting baseline testing
1,186
48.3%
Further findings
Factors associated with baseline testing
| OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Larger author teamsOdds of baseline testing · multivariable logistic regression | 0.95 (0.93–0.97) | |
| Higher number of variables testedOdds of ≥1 significant difference · multivariable logistic regression | 1.10 (1.07–1.12) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
At least one significant baseline difference, among studies testing
- Studies with ≥1 significant difference
- 228 (19.2%)
- Discussed as study limitation
- 58 (25.4%)
Variables tested and reported significant
- Variables tested
- 11,516
- Reported significant, below 5% expected by chance
- 424 (3.7%)
- P < 0.001
Original publication
The Enduring Table 1 Fallacy: A Meta-research Study of Baseline Testing in Anesthesiology and Pain Trials. Anesthesiology. Published 25 September 2025. doi:10.
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