Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40738753›Full record

Observational studyStroke and vascular neurology2026

Where are we going for the treatment in ischaemic stroke: a comprehensive study of investigator-sponsored randomised controlled trials, 1990-2024.

Xinya Li, Xue Xia, Meng Gao, Ruobing Tian, Xue Tian, Manqi Zheng, Anxin Wang

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Stroke and vascular neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xinya LiDepartment of Epidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7539-8194
Xue XiaDepartment of Epidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1719-0598
Meng GaoDepartment of Epidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Ruobing TianDepartment of Epidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xue TianDepartment of Epidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Manqi ZhengDepartment of Epidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Anxin WangDepartment of Epidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China wanganxin@bjtth.org.ORCID 0000-0003-4351-2877

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUntil recently, a comprehensive understanding of the current development status and emerging trends of investigator-sponsored randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for the treatment of ischaemic stroke (IS) on a global scale remains elusive, making it unclear where the research and innovation in the field are going.

methodsFollowing the design, registration, enrolment and publication (DREP) cycle, we conducted an observational study of investigator-sponsored RCTs enrolling patients with IS for therapeutic purposes using the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform. We analysed cumulative publication rates since registration and enrolment and explored the association of potential factors with publication status.

resultsA total of 1518 trials were included. The number of registered, enrolment-commenced, published RCTs increased from 1990 to 2024 (p<0.001, for all). Of these, 66.5% were registered prior to their enrolment with the first subject. Among 435 trials that ended and were registered 5 years ago, 189 (43.4%) have been published. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that endovascular therapy or surgery as intervention (compared with traditional medicine) (HR (95% CI), 2.02 (1.06 to 3.87)) was associated with trial publication. Also, there existed a positive association between target sample size and publication, when the sample size surpassed 274. In addition, the most frequent cause of the termination and withdrawal in trials is the difficulty in enrolment.

conclusionSince 1990 to the present, investigator-sponsored RCTs of IS treatment have seen a significant increase worldwide. Nevertheless, a multitude of impediments in the DREP cycle still persists that necessitate resolution and enhancement. There is a pressing need for addressing issues such as retrospective registration, premature termination of enrolment and suppression of study results, to further expand the reach of research improvements to a wider patient community.

Indexed as

Endovascular ProceduresIschemic StrokeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicResearch DesignBibliometricsHistory, 21st CenturyHumansRegistriesTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeCerebral InfarctionInterventionIschemic StrokeStroke

Identifiers

PMID40738753
PMCPMC13151877

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.