title: [Development of an Excel spreadsheet for meta-analysis of indirect and mixed treatment comparisons].
abstract: Meta-analyses in clinical research usually aimed to evaluate treatment efficacy and safety in direct comparison with a unique comparator. Indirect comparisons, using the Bucher's method, can summarize primary data when information from direct comparisons is limited or nonexistent. Mixed comparisons allow combining estimates from direct and indirect comparisons, increasing statistical power. There is a need for simple applications for meta-analysis of indirect and mixed comparisons. These can easily be conducted using a Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet. We developed a spreadsheet for indirect and mixed effects comparisons of friendly use for clinical researchers interested in systematic reviews, but non-familiarized with the use of more advanced statistical packages. The use of the proposed Excel spreadsheet for indirect and mixed comparisons can be of great use in clinical epidemiology to extend the knowledge provided by traditional meta-analysis when evidence from direct comparisons is limited or nonexistent.
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobías
authors.forename: Ferrán
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catalá-López
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roqué
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012984:Software; D016896:Treatment Outcome