| Ref ID | 506 |
| First Author | M. Paquette |
| Journal | SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS |
| Year Of Publishing | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6814034/pdf/13643_2019_Article_1152.pdf |
| Keywords |
• Cochrane • Cardiology • Pre-specification • Multiplicity |
| Problem(s) |
• Multiplicity of outcomes and lack of pre-specification for outcome reporting |
| Article Type | Empirical |
| Article Subtype | Cross-sectional survey/Methodological systematic review |
| First Author Country | Canada |
| Checklists |
• AMSTAR 2 |
| Aim | To assess the frequency of subgroups prespecified and conducted and report credibility of subgroup effects claimed in Cochrane reviews of atrial fibrillation published in Issue 9 2018. Methodological (AMSTAR 2) quality was also assessed. |
| Level of Investigation | Descriptive |
| Summary of Findings | Most (76.5%) planned pre-specified subgroup analyses, of which 41.2% conducted subgroups. The credibility of subgroups performed was assessed and less than half (43%) represented one of a small number of pre-specified hypothesis and rarely were effects seen within studies (7%). No reviews included details on how covariates were selected, or if statistical considerations necessitated an abbreviated list of covariates from an initial set pre-specified for investigation. Of 5 reviews that reported subgroup effects, only 3 discussed subgroup effects as part of the overall conclusions. None discussed credibility of subgroup effects. |
| Number of systematic reviews included | 17 |
| Number of eligible systematic reviews assessed | 39 |
| Treatment impacted | No |
| Treatment impacted description | |
| Interpretation impacted | Not Applicable |
| Interpretation impacted description |