Designing of Trials: Power Calculations Based on Matching as a Surrogate for Randomization

In the design of clinical trials we strive to extract the maximum amount of information from a minimum number of patients and vet retain statistical validity. Matching has become acknowledged as a useful and valid surrogate for the randomized trial. By using data from matched trials along with power calculations we can accurately predict the number of patients required to achieve statistical significance in a related randomized trial. (J Interven Cardiol 1994; 7:581–585)