Empirical evaluation of which trial characteristics are associated with treatment effect estimates
Empirical evaluation of which trial characteristics are associated with treatment effect estimates
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.04.005
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发表时间：
2016-09-01
影响因子：
7.2
通讯作者：
Ravaud, Philippe
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dechartres, Agnes;Trinquart, Ludovic;Ravaud, Philippe
目的：元流行病学研究提供了与治疗效果相关的试验特征的经验证据。我们的目的是评估所使用的方法和特点与治疗效果在这些研究中study.Study设计和设置：对于这个系统性综述，我们检索了MEDLINE，Embase，科克伦方法注册，Web of Science，和PROSPERO截至2015年4月。我们特别评估了四个关键的方法学组成部分：集合的构成，荟萃分析中的试验聚类，异质性评估和荟萃混杂因素的调整。我们还评估了评价的试验特征及其与治疗效果的相关性。结果：我们纳入了56项荟萃流行病学研究，数据来自3，199项荟萃分析，32个网络和21，468项试验。其中32篇（58%）是自2010年以来发表的。只有13份（23%）包括所有关键的方法组成部分。总共评估了58项试验特征。分别在22项（39%）和17项（30%）元流行病学研究中评估了分配隐藏和序列生成，9项（16%）试验规模。在序列生成或分配隐藏不充分的试验或较小的试验中，这些特征始终与治疗效果估计相关，收藏品（收藏品）经常丢失。关于评估的试验特征，有一致的证据表明分配隐藏、序列生成和试验规模与治疗效果相关。(C)2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Objective: Meta-epidemiological studies provide empirical evidence of trial characteristics associated with treatment effects. We aimed to evaluate methods used and characteristics associated with treatment effect in these studies.Study Design and Setting: For this systematic review, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Methodology Register, Web of Science, and PROSPERO up to April 2015. We particularly assessed four key methodological components: constitution of the collection, clustering of trials within meta-analyses, heterogeneity assessment, and adjustment on meta-confounders. We also assessed trial characteristics evaluated and their association with treatment effect.Results: We included 56 meta-epidemiological studies with data from 3,199 meta-analyses, 32 networks, and 21,468 trials. Thirty-two (58%) were published since 2010. Only 13 (23%) included all key methodological components. Overall, 58 trial characteristics were assessed. Allocation concealment and sequence generation were assessed in 22 (39%) and 17 (30%) meta-epidemiological studies, respectively, and trial size in 9 (16%). These characteristics were consistently associated with treatment effect estimates with larger effects in trials with inadequate sequence generation or allocation concealment or smaller trials.Conclusions: Key methodological components (e.g., constitution of the collection) were frequently missing. Concerning trial characteristics evaluated, there was consistent evidence that allocation concealment, sequence generation, and trial size were associated with treatment effect. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.