Continuously updated network meta-analysis and statistical monitoring for timely decision-making.

Nikolakopoulou, Adriani; Mavridis, Dimitris; Egger, Matthias; Salanti, Georgia (2018). Continuously updated network meta-analysis and statistical monitoring for timely decision-making. Statistical Methods in Medical Research, 27(5), pp. 1312-1330. SAGE Publications (UK and US) 10.1177/0962280216659896

[img]
Preview
Text
Nikolakopoulou StatMethodsMedRes 2018.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial (CC-BY-NC).

Download (2MB) | Preview

Pairwise and network meta-analysis (NMA) are traditionally used retrospectively to assess existing evidence. However, the current evidence often undergoes several updates as new studies become available. In each update recommendations about the conclusiveness of the evidence and the need of future studies need to be made. In the context of prospective meta-analysis future studies are planned as part of the accumulation of the evidence. In this setting, multiple testing issues need to be taken into account when the meta-analysis results are interpreted. We extend ideas of sequential monitoring of meta-analysis to provide a methodological framework for updating NMAs. Based on the z-score for each network estimate (the ratio of effect size to its standard error) and the respective information gained after each study enters NMA we construct efficacy and futility stopping boundaries. A NMA treatment effect is considered conclusive when it crosses an appended stopping boundary. The methods are illustrated using a recently published NMA where we show that evidence about a particular comparison can become conclusive via indirect evidence even if no further trials address this comparison.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Medical Education > Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (BIHAM)

UniBE Contributor:

Nikolakopoulou, Adriani, Egger, Matthias, Salanti, Georgia

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

0962-2802

Publisher:

SAGE Publications (UK and US)

Language:

English

Submitter:

Doris Kopp Heim

Date Deposited:

03 Nov 2016 09:18

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:59

Publisher DOI:

10.1177/0962280216659896

PubMed ID:

27587588

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Sequential methods; efficacy and futility boundaries; multiple treatments; stopping rules; update of systematic reviews

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.89832

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/89832

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback