Small studies may overestimate the effect sizes in critical care meta-analyses: a meta-epidemiological study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Small-study effects refer to the fact that trials with limited sample sizes are more likely to report larger beneficial effects than large trials. However, this has never been investigated in critical care medicine. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the presence and extent of small-study effects in critical care medicine.

Methods

Critical care meta-analyses involving randomized controlled trials and reported mortality as an outcome measure were considered eligible for the study. Component trials were classified as large (≥100 patients per arm) and small (<100 patients per arm) according to their sample sizes. Ratio of odds ratio (ROR) was calculated for each meta-analysis and then RORs were combined using a meta-analytic approach. ROR<1 indicated larger b

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4056100 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature