The impact of meta-analyses on clinical practice: the benefits.
Meta-analyses are frequently criticized because in most cases they are compiled from quite heterogeneous studies. In spite of this limitation meta-analyses are increasingly published because in many areas of clinical research the results of individual studies are devoid of statistical power and end up with conflicting results. Meta-analyses, if performed with a rigorous and exhaustive search of all accountable information on a specific topic, have the potential of overcoming the drawbacks of single studies and, in addition, of adjusting for publication bias and interstudy variability. These strengths of meta-analyses can be exploited to provide conclusive answers on diagnostic and therapeutic issues being debated, which in turn may help guide doctors toward more rational decisions.
Chair of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Center, Ospedale San Giuseppe Fatebenefratelli - Milano Cuore, Italy. alberto.morganti@unimi.it
Alberto
A
Morganti
D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic