Empirical comparison of univariate and multivariate meta-analyses in Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth reviews with multiple binary outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multivariate meta-analysis (MVMA) jointly synthesizes effects for multiple correlated outcomes. The MVMA model is potentially more difficult and time-consuming to apply than univariate models, so if its use makes little difference to parameter estimates, it could be argued that it is redundant.

Methods

We assessed the applicability and impact of MVMA in Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth (CPCB) systematic reviews. We applied MVMA to CPCB reviews published between 2011 and 2013 with two or more binary outcomes with at least three studies and compared findings with results of univariate meta-analyses. Univariate random effects meta-analysis models were fitted using restricted maximum likelihood estimation (REML).

Results

Eighty CPCB reviews were published. MVM

SUBMITTER: Price MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6771837 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature