Use of multiple covariates in assessing treatment-effect modifiers: A methodological review of individual participant data meta-analyses.

ABSTRACT: Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses of randomised trials are considered a reliable way to assess participant-level treatment effect modifiers but may not make the best use of the available data. Traditionally, effect modifiers are explored one covariate at a time, which gives rise to the possibility that evidence of treatment-covariate interaction may be due to confounding from a different, related covariate. We aimed to evaluate current practice when estimating treatment-covariate interactions in IPD meta-analysis, specifically focusing on involvement of additional covariates in the models. We reviewed 100 IPD meta-analyses of randomised trials, published between 2015 and 2020, that assessed at least one treatment-covariate interaction. We identified four approaches to handlin

SUBMITTER: Godolphin PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7617190 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature