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Table 4 Descriptive checklist of five population studies on chiropractic primary or early secondary prevention

From: Effect of chiropractic treatment on primary or early secondary prevention: a systematic review with a pedagogic approach

First Author

(Year)

Journal

Affiliation

Country

Research question(s)

or purpose of study

Design

Study population

Outcome variables

Which factors associated with cause were included?

Authors’/author’s conclusion in relation to effect/benefit of chiropractic treatment

Hart [19]

(2007)

JVSR

Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic

USA

“to better understand possible mechanisms for the health disparity along the River”

Mississippi River

Register study

General population from the states along the Mississippi River

Various diseases and mortality

Only correlations between risk factor (physician/chiropractor ratios) and outcomes (various health conditions and death) were studied

“Chiropractors had stronger correlations for improved health outcomes when compared to physicians. Further study is indicated into other possible causative mechanisms such as the quality of drinking water and health care delivery.”

Hart [20]

(2007)

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic

USA

“This study assesses doctor (allopathic/ osteopathic physician and chiropractor) ratios in the 50 states in the United States and correlates these ratios with various health outcomes to determine if one doctor type has stronger correlations in certain outcomes compared with the other doctor type by geographic region.”

Register study

General population from 50 states in the United states

Various diseases and mortality

Only correlations between risk factor (physician/chiropractor ratios) and outcomes (various health conditions and death) were studied

“Correlation does not necessarily show causation but may provide clues. […] It is possible, although care should be taken to avoid overspeculation, that doctors of chiropractic are having an effect in seemingly unlikely outcomes such as cardiovascular and cancer deaths”

Hart [21]

(2008)

JVSR

Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic

USA

As above (Hart, 2007) [20], but adding the variables of income, education and health insurance coverage in the analysis

Register study

General population from 50 states in the United states + district of Columbia

Various diseases and mortality

Only correlations between risk factor (physician/chiropractor ratios) and outcomes (various health conditions and death) were studied

“Correlation does not necessarily show causation but it can provide clues. Median income, educational attainment, and chiropractor ratios showed the strongest correlation with reduced mortality rates while health insurance and medical doctor ratios showed the weakest correlation with reduced mortality rates.”

Hart [22]

JVSR

(2008)

JVSR

Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic

USA

As above (Hart, 2007) [20] but adding the variables of age, income and education in the analysis

Register study

General population from 50 states in the United states + district of Columbia

Various diseases and mortality

Only correlations between risk factor (physician/chiropractor ratios) and outcomes (various health conditions and death) were studied

“The age factor […] had the strongest association with death rates” compared to doctor ratios.

“The only statistically significant relationship among doctor ratios was observed with medical doctors and cerebrovascular, though chiropractor ratios showed a stronger average correlation with reduced death rates.”

Hart [23]

International Dose-Response Society

(2013)

Sherman College of Chiropractic

USA

“to simply compare the correlation between DC and MD concentrations (doses) in relation to hypertension mortality rates (responses).”

DC = Doctors of Chiropractic

MD = Medical Doctors

Register study

General population from district of Columbia (without Alaska and Wyoming)

Hypertension

Death rates

Only correlations between risk factor (physician/chiropractor ratios) and outcomes (various health conditions and death) were studied

“DC concentrations (dose) revealed a stronger beneficial correlation with decreased hypertension (essential hypertension and renal hypertensive disease) mortality rates (response) compared to MD concentrations”

(Causal inference is not claimed.)

  1. JVSR journal of vertebral subluxation research