Significant research waste identified in gastroesophageal trials

Over the past 20 years, an analysis of 182 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia highlighted that over 86.7% exhibited significant research waste. The majority of trials were drug-related, primarily conducted in North America and Asia, with deficiencies found in various aspects such as reporting adequacy and design flaws. This study is the first to quantify RCT shortcomings across continents, revealing trends that could guide the development of more effective trials.