With this in mind, and in order to demonstrate the additional benefit of adding LH to FSH in controlled ovarian stimulation, the clear comparator for the study is r-FSH alone.
All but six studies [ 20- 25] provided a clear description of the comparators and sufficient information on the study groups (who received what).
All evaluations complied with the following quality criteria: presence of a clear hypothesis, methodology, selection of comparators, choice of appropriate benefits, and local applicability.
A clear study objective and relevant comparators are important, since economic evaluation is concerned with measuring the marginal costs and benefits relative to their highest valued alternative use [ 55].
In trials comparing an intervention to an active control or usual care, a clear description of the rationale for the comparator intervention will facilitate understanding of its appropriateness.
The absence of a clear null hypothesis may make the definition of comparator groups in a TES difficult (mean (SD) 7.4 (1.74)) and should therefore be stated where appropriate (see table 3 for details on method of data analysis).
The NICE expert advisers have not voiced a clear opinion about adverse events with the use of Debrisoft® compared with the comparators of gauze, hydrogel or larvae.
A clear description of the study objective together with information on the comparators is vital for assessing the quality of an economic evaluation.
There is also a clear lack of exercise and drug comparisons: trials evaluating the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy rarely included physical activity as a comparator.
Consequently, a clear conceptual distinction is needed between the risk assessment for food and feed purposes with equivalence limits based on the natural variability of non-GM comparators, and the environmental risk assessment of GMOs using independent and protection goal-derived LoCs [45].
