Real-world Performance of Meta-analysis Methods for Double-Zero-Event Studies with Dichotomous Outcomes Using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Meta-analysis combines multiple independent studies, which can increase power and provide better estimates. However, it is unclear how best to deal with studies with zero events; such studies are also known as double-zero-event studies (DZS). Several statistical methods have been proposed, but the agreement among different approaches has not been systematically assessed using real-world published systematic reviews. METHODS:The agreement of five commonly used methods (i.e., the inverse-variance, Mantel-Haenszel, Peto, Bayesian, and exact methods) was assessed using the Cohen's κ coefficients using 368 meta-analyses with rare events selected from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Three continuity corrections, including the correction of a constant 0.5, the treatment ar

SUBMITTER: Ren Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6544742 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature