Cranley Denise, Dunn Sarah, Taylor John-Paul, Desborough Michael Jr, Craig Jennifer, Sprigg Nikola, McComish Rachel, Foltynie Thomas, Wardlaw Joanna, Oatey Katherine, Heye Anna, Bath Philip, Innes Karen, Dinsmore Lynn, Griffiths Jessica, Fox Lisa, Williamson Paula R, Al-Shahi Salman Rustam
Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
BMJ Open. 2025 Jun 17;15(6):e090419. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090419.
To quantify the carbon footprint of a sample of clinical trials for neurological disorders.
Cross-sectional study.
Two clinical trial registries were searched on 29 December 2022 for phase 2-4 randomised controlled trials led from and recruiting in the UK, enrolling people with any of the 15 neurological disorders with the highest global burden, that had started recruitment or been registered in the preceding 5 years. Eligible trials were invited to share data to estimate emissions in each of the 10 modules of the Low Carbon Clinical Trials footprinting guidance. The primary outcome measure was kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (COe).
318 randomised controlled trials were found, nine were eligible and six shared data (three completed and three ongoing). The module with the highest estimated COe for each trial was the Clinical Trial Unit staff emissions (median 24 126 kg CO2e, IQR 10 395-78,867; range 45-79% of overall emissions of each trial); commuting accounted for >50% of COe in this module. The second and third highest modules were trial-specific participant assessments (median 11 497 kg CO2e, IQR 825-15,682) and trial supplies and equipment (median 1161 kg COe, IQR 226-6632). The total carbon footprint of these six trials involving 2248 participants at 239 sites was 2 63 215 kg COe.
Emissions by Clinical Trials Unit staff were the top modifiable carbon hotspot in six randomised controlled trials for people with neurological disorders, which had a total carbon footprint equivalent to 1364 passengers' return aeroplane journeys between London and Edinburgh.
量化神经系统疾病临床试验样本的碳足迹。
横断面研究。
于2022年12月29日检索了两个临床试验注册库，以查找在英国开展并招募患者的2-4期随机对照试验，这些试验纳入全球负担最重的15种神经系统疾病中的任何一种患者，且在过去5年内开始招募或已注册。符合条件的试验被邀请分享数据，以估算低碳临床试验足迹指南10个模块中每个模块的排放量。主要结局指标为二氧化碳当量（CO₂e）千克数。
共找到318项随机对照试验，9项符合条件，6项分享了数据（3项已完成，3项正在进行）。每个试验估算的CO₂e最高的模块是临床试验单位工作人员排放（中位数24126千克CO₂e，四分位距10395 - 78867；占每个试验总排放量的45 - 79%）；通勤在该模块的CO₂e中占比超过50%。第二和第三高的模块是特定试验的参与者评估（中位数11497千克CO₂e，四分位距825 - 15682）和试验用品及设备（中位数1161千克CO₂e，四分位距226 - 6632）。这6项涉及239个地点2248名参与者的试验的总碳足迹为263215千克CO₂e。
临床试验单位工作人员的排放是6项针对神经系统疾病患者的随机对照试验中首要的可改变碳热点，其总碳足迹相当于1364名乘客往返伦敦和爱丁堡的飞机旅程。
