title: Data exploration in meta-analysis with smooth latent distributions.
abstract: Meta-analysis with discrete outcomes is interpreted as the estimation (in one or two dimensions) of a non-parametric smooth latent distribution of event probabilities (or rates). A simple but efficient EM algorithm is presented. A fine grid is used and fast smoothing is done by penalized least squares. Data exploration is the primary goal, but the estimated distribution can also be used to compute useful statistics of treatment effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9604, RC Leiden 2300, The Netherlands. p.eilers@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Paul H C
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Eilers
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009426:Netherlands; D016008:Statistical Distributions