Quantitative summaries of treatment effect estimates obtained with network meta-analysis of survival curves to inform decision-making.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increasingly, network meta-analysis (NMA) of published survival data are based on parametric survival curves as opposed to reported hazard ratios to avoid relying on the proportional hazards assumption. If a Bayesian framework is used for the NMA, rank probabilities associated with the alternative treatments can be obtained, which directly support decision-making. In the context of survival analysis multiple treatment effect measures are available to inform the rank probabilities.

Methods

A fractional polynomial NMA of overall survival in advanced melanoma was performed as an illustrative example. Rank probabilities were calculated and presented for the following effect measures: 1) median survival; 2) expected survival; 3) mean survival at the follow-up time poin

SUBMITTER: Cope S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3866977 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature