Was Lost to Follow up?
In the Clinical Research Trial Industry, Loss to Follow-up Refers to Patients Who at One Point in Time Were Actively Participating in a Clinical Research...
In the clinical research trial industry, loss to follow-up refers to patients who at one point in time were actively participating in a clinical research trial, but have become lost (either by error in a computer tracking system or by being unreachable) at the point of follow-up in the trial.
Why are patients lost to follow-up?
Common reasons for loss to follow-up were social or structural. These included problems with transportation, finances, and work/child care responsibilities. Among those lost to follow-up, subsequent outcomes were heterogeneous.
What is a good loss to follow-up?
A good rule of thumb is that <5% loss leads to little bias, while >20% poses serious threats to validity. However, even less than 20% loss to follow-up can be a problem. Considering a worst-case scenario can help determine whether loss to follow-up poses a potential threat to validity.
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