adjudication committee
Independent expert panel that reviews and classifies clinical events in cardiovascular trials to ensure consistent endpoint determination.
Full Definition
An adjudication committee, also known as a Clinical Events Committee (CEC), is an independent panel of clinical experts responsible for reviewing, classifying, and validating clinical events reported in cardiovascular trials. Committee members are blinded to treatment allocation and use predefined criteria to determine whether reported events meet protocol-specified endpoint definitions. This process ensures standardized, unbiased assessment of clinical outcomes such as myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death. Adjudication committees are essential for regulatory submissions and maintaining scientific rigor in clinical trials, particularly for soft endpoints that require clinical interpretation.
Usage
Usage note: Emphasize independence and blinding when describing committee function; distinguish from other trial committees.
In Context
- "All potential cardiovascular events were reviewed by an independent adjudication committee blinded to treatment assignment." — clinical trial methodology
- "The adjudication committee confirmed 847 primary endpoint events during the study period." — trial results report