Get real in individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis: a review of the methodology.
Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis is an increasingly used approach for synthesizing and investigating treatment effect estimates. Over the past few years, numerous methods for conducting an IPD meta-analysis (IPD-MA) have been proposed, often making different assumptions and modeling choices while addressing a similar research question. We conducted a literature review to provide an overview of methods for performing an IPD-MA using evidence from clinical trials or non-randomized studies when investigating treatment efficacy. With this review, we aim to assist researchers in choosing the appropriate methods and provide recommendations on their implementation when planning and conducting an IPD-MA.
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|The Dutch Cochrane Centre, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Thomas P A
TP
Debray
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|The Dutch Cochrane Centre, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Karel G M
KG
Moons
Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Gert
G
van Valkenhoef
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Orestis
O
Efthimiou
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Noemi
N
Hummel
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Rolf H H
RH
Groenwold
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|The Dutch Cochrane Centre, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Johannes B
JB
Reitsma
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012984:Software; D016896:Treatment Outcome
IPD; NRSI; RCT; cross-design; evidence synthesis; meta-analysis; non-randomized intervention studies; review