From sex differences to sex inequalities in life expectancy: A cross-country observational benchmarking analysis

Open research and data transparency are a bulwark against unethical activities, but can also introduce integrity risks. In this Perspective, Danny Maupin, Matt Spick and Nophar Geifman argue that freely available data can be exploited, and set out the case for the use of safeguarding practices.

Large open health datasets present unique opportunities for studies that when well-designed, conducted, and reported, can offer valuable contributions to health and medicine. However, recent years have seen a concerning proliferation of analyses lacking robust or novel findings. This Editorial provides guidance to authors for conducting and reporting high quality secondary analyses using these datasets.