Age-treatment subgroup analyses in Cochrane intervention reviews: a meta-epidemiological study

Ref ID 530
First Author P. Liu
Journal BMC MEDICINE
Year Of Publishing 2019
URL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6805640/pdf/12916_2019_Article_1420.pdf
Keywords • Cochrane
• General medical
• Subgroup
• Pre-specification
• Multiplicity
Problem(s) • Unplanned or unjustified subgroup or sensitivity analyses
• Multiplicity of outcomes and lack of pre-specification for outcome reporting
Number of systematic reviews included 928
Summary of Findings 20.4% of the 928 included Cochrane reviews outlined plans to conduct age treatment subgroup analyses. However, 2.7% reviews actually reported age-treatment subgroup analyses. Three reviews performed unplanned age-treatment subgroup analyses.
Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? N/A
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? Yes