Inconsistent results in meta-analyses for the prevention of falls are found between study-level data and patient-level data.
OBJECTIVE
This study seeks to examine whether existing study-level data meta-analysis approaches can be used to produce unbiased and precise effect estimates relative to meta-analyses conducted using patient-level data, where a recurrent event is the outcome of interest.


METHODS
Data from two studies focusing on the prevention of falls in the hospital setting (N=1,838 total) was divided into the three hospital sites from which data were collected. Outcome data were considered as recurrent event survival data, single event survival data, count data, rate data, and binary data. A range of analysis approaches were considered.


RESULTS
Andersen-Gill, negative binomial, bootstrap resampling, and modified relative risk analysis approaches produced congruous point estimates of effect, whereas modified relative risk analysis produced considerably smaller standard errors. Pooled effect point estimates derived from these approaches were not consistent when using study-level data as opposed to patient-level data, and 95% confidence intervals were excessively wide when between-study heterogeneity was present.


CONCLUSIONS
Conducting meta-analysis using patient-level data (if possible) or presenting results from individual trials without pooling of effect estimates may be preferable to presenting pooled effect estimates from meta-analysis of study-level data, where the outcome is a recurrent event.
Haines
Terry P
TP
Southern Physiotherapy Clinical School, Physiotherapy Department, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia. terrence.haines@med.monash.edu.au
Hill
Anne-Marie
AM
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015982:Bias; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D012306:Risk