DPP-4 inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a methodology overview of systematic reviews

Ref ID 101
First Author J. Ling
Journal ACTA DIABETOLOGICA
Year Of Publishing 2019
URL https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00592-018-1164-5.pdf
Keywords Protocols
Grey literature
Publication bias
Risk of bias
Endocrinology
Low reporting quality
Problem(s) Reasons for excluding potentially eligible studies not provided
No registered or published protocol
Grey literature excluded
Low methodological (AMSTAR) quality
Poor consideration of publication bias
No quality assessment undertaken or reported
Conflicts of interest or funding of included studies not assessed
Risk of bias not incorporated into conclusions of review
Number of systematic reviews included 63
Summary of Findings Only seven (11.1%) of the 63 included systematic reviews of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes mellitus scored more than nine points in AMSTAR. The lowest quality items were “a list of studies (included and excluded)” with only one (1.6%) review fulfilling, followed by the “providing a priori design” item with only four (6.3%) systematic reviews conforming; the next were “the status of publication (gray literature) used as an inclusion criterion item”, with only 18 (28.9%) reviews conforming. Eight studies did not use a quality scoring tool or checklist and nine reviews did not consider the methodological rigor and scientific quality in the analysis and the conclusions of the review. 45.3% of systematic reviews did not assess the likelihood of publication bias. 41 systematic reviews acknowledged potential sources of support and sources of funding.
Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? Not Applicable
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? No