Blind spots in reporting and representation in knee osteoarthritis research: A systematic review of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 22,443 participants in randomised controlled trials of first-line care
Authors' conclusion
Limited reporting and global population representation in knee osteoarthritis RCTs reduces applicability of findings, undermines treatment recommendations, and risks exacerbating existing global health inequities.
Study context
- Population
- Participants in knee OA randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of first-line care included in higher-quality systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs)
- Participants
- 22,443 participants241 RCTs
- Outcome
- Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of participants reported in knee OA RCTs of first-line care
Methodological detailsdescriptive synthesis, PROGRESS-Plus framework, Nine databases, guideline repositories and professional associations' websites searched from inception to March 2025
- Descriptive synthesis
- PROGRESS-Plus framework
- Nine databases, guideline repositories and professional associations' websites searched from inception to March 2025
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- Countries represented
- 17% (34/198)
- Moderate-to-high quality (PEDro)
- 95% (n=229/241)
- From high-income countries
- 55% (n=133/241)
- From low-income countries
- 0
- Reported residence
- 2%, n=6
- Reported primary language
- 0%, n=0
- Reported employment
- 14%, n=33
- Reported socioeconomic status
- 7%, n=17
- Reported race/ethnicity
- 15% (n=36); 32 from the United States
- Average participant age (years)
- 63
- Average BMI (kg/m²)
- 30
- Comorbidities (range)
- 2-14
- Average pain (/100)
- 58
Original publication
Blind spots in reporting and representation in knee osteoarthritis research: A systematic review of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 22,443 participants in randomised controlled trials of first-line care. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 3 March 2026. doi:10.
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