skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Multiple treatment comparison meta-analyses: a step forward into complexity

Methodology

(2739) Views  (677) Full article downloads

Authors: Mills E, Bansback N, Ghement I, Thorlund K, Kelly S, Puhan M, Wright J

Published Date May 2011 Volume 2011:3(1) Pages 193 - 202
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S16526

Edward J Mills1, Nick Bansback2,8, Isabella Ghement3, Kristian Thorlund4, Steven Kelly5, Milo A Puhan6, James Wright7
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; 2Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences (CHEOS), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 3Ghement Statistical Consulting Company, Richmond, BC, Canada; 4Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; 5Department of Outcomes Research and Evidence Based Medicine, Pfizer Ltd, Walton Oaks, UK; 6Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; 7Department of Oncology and Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; 8School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Abstract: The use of meta-analysis has become increasingly useful for clinical and policy decision making. A recent development in meta-analysis, multiple treatment comparison (MTC) meta-analysis, provides inferences on the comparative effectiveness of interventions that may have never been directly evaluated in clinical trials. This new approach may be confusing for clinicians and methodologists and raises specific challenges relevant to certain areas of medicine. This article addresses the methodological concepts of MTC meta-analysis, including issues of heterogeneity, choice of model, and adequacy of sample sizes. We address domain-specific challenges relevant to disciplines of medicine, including baseline risks of patient populations. We conclude that MTC meta-analysis is a useful tool in the context of comparative effectiveness and requires further study, as its utility and transparency will likely predict its uptake by the research and clinical community.

Keywords: network, multiple treatment comparison, mixed treatment comparison, meta-analysis




 

Other articles by Dr Edward Mills

Astragalus-containing Chinese herbal combinations for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of 65 clinical trials enrolling 4751 patients
Boceprevir and telaprevir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection: an indirect comparison meta-analysis
Differences in clinical outcomes among hepatitis C genotype 1-infected patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2a or peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin: a meta-analysis
Efficacy and safety of prostaglandin analogues in patients with predominantly primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: a meta-analysis
Interpreting meta-analysis according to the adequacy of sample size. An example using isoniazid chemoprophylaxis for tuberculosis in purified protein derivative negative HIV-infected individuals
Pharmacotherapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a multiple treatment comparison meta-analysis
Stability of additive treatment effects in multiple treatment comparison meta-analysis: a simulation study
Tuberculosis mortality in HIV-infected individuals: a cross-national systematic assessment


Readers of this article also read:

Potential misinterpretations caused by collapsing upper categories of comorbidity indices: An illustration from a cohort of older breast cancer survivors
Role of eslicarbazepine in the treatment of epilepsy in adult patients with partial-onset seizures
Interpreting meta-analysis according to the adequacy of sample size. An example using isoniazid chemoprophylaxis for tuberculosis in purified protein derivative negative HIV-infected individuals
Racial differences in diabetes-related psychosocial factors and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes
Bladder extramedullary plasmacytoma and synchronous bladder urothelial transitional cell carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature
Pharmacotherapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a multiple treatment comparison meta-analysis
Comparison of Charlson comorbidity index with SAPS and APACHE scores for prediction of mortality following intensive care
Characteristics of Dutch and Swiss primary care COPD patients - baseline data of the ICE COLD ERIC study
Boceprevir and telaprevir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection: an indirect comparison meta-analysis
Stability of additive treatment effects in multiple treatment comparison meta-analysis: a simulation study