A Standardized MedDRA Query (SMQ) is a validated grouping of MedDRA terms designed to identify and analyze specific safety topics.
SMQs help pharmacovigilance teams search for related adverse event patterns using consistent, regulator-recognized logic. They are used in clinical development and post-market surveillance to support signal detection and risk evaluation. SMQs improve cross-study comparability because they standardize how potential syndromes or clinical concepts are identified in coded data. Proper SMQ use strengthens safety narratives, periodic reports, and benefitñrisk assessments.