Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Design
Review
IPD meta-analyses warrant cautious interpretation by clinicians; leaves open standardization of heterogeneity reporting for researchers.
Although IPD meta-analyses have many advantages in assessing the effects of health care, there are several aspects that could be further developed to make fuller use of the potential of these time-consuming projects. In particular, IPD could be used to more fully investigate the influence of covariates on heterogeneity of treatment effects, both within and between trials. The impact of heterogeneity, or use of random effects, are seldom discussed. There is thus considerable scope for enhancing the methods of analysis and presentation of IPD meta-analysis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Simmonds et al. (2005) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: