- Framework of problems / Rigourous
- Inadequate analysis of heterogeneity
- The impact of including different study designs in meta-analyses of diagnostic accuracy studies
Ref ID | 234 |
First Author | L. A. Parker |
Journal | EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY |
Year Of Publishing | 2013 |
URL | https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10654-012-9756-9.pdf |
Keywords |
Diagnostic Heterogeneity |
Problem(s) |
Inadequate analysis of heterogeneity |
Number of systematic reviews included | 30 |
Summary of Findings | Of the 95 individual meta-analyses from 30 included systematic reviews of diagnostic accuracy, meta-analyses with heterogeneous populations were over three times more likely to report good diagnostic accuracy compared to meta-analyses that included only clinically relevant patient series (adjusted odds ratio 3.07 95 % CI 1.16–8.11). Nearly half of the meta-analyses included heterogeneous study designs; and among those with homogeneous studies, 94 % included all clinically-relevant patient series, while 3 % included only studies with case–control designs. |
Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? | Yes |
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? | Yes |