Comparison of pooled risk estimates for adverse effects from different observational study designs: methodological overview.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A diverse range of study designs (e.g. case-control or cohort) are used in the evaluation of adverse effects. We aimed to ascertain whether the risk estimates from meta-analyses of case-control studies differ from that of other study designs.

Methods

Searches were carried out in 10 databases in addition to reference checking, contacting experts, and handsearching key journals and conference proceedings. Studies were included where a pooled relative measure of an adverse effect (odds ratio or risk ratio) from case-control studies could be directly compared with the pooled estimate for the same adverse effect arising from other types of observational studies.

Results

We included 82 meta-analyses. Pooled estimates of harm from the different study designs had 9

SUBMITTER: Golder S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3748094 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature