Integration of non-randomized studies with randomized controlled trials in meta-analyses of clinical studies: a meta-epidemiological study on effect estimation of interventions.

ABSTRACT:

Backgrounds

Syntheses of non-randomized studies of interventions (NRSIs) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are increasingly used in decision-making. This study aimed to summarize when NRSIs are included in evidence syntheses of RCTs, with a particular focus on the methodological issues associated with combining NRSIs and RCTs.

Methods

We searched PubMed to identify clinical systematic reviews published between 9 December 2017 and 9 December 2022, randomly sampling reviews in a 1:1 ratio of Core and non-Core clinical journals. We included systematic reviews with RCTs and NRSIs for the same clinical question. Clinical scenarios for considering the inclusion of NRSIs in eligible studies were classified. We extracted the methodological characteristics of the included studi

SUBMITTER: Mei F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11613474 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature