%0 Journal Article %1 Baker2009 %A Baker, W L %A White, C Michael %A Cappelleri, J C %A Kluger, J %A Coleman, C I %D 2009 %J International journal of clinical practice %K Bias(Epidemiology) DataDisplay DataInterpretation Meta-AnalysisasTopic RandomAllocation RegressionAnalysis Statistical %N 10 %P 1426-34 %R 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02168.x %T Understanding heterogeneity in meta-analysis: the role of meta-regression. %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19769699 %V 63 %X BACKGROUND: Meta-regression has grown in popularity in recent years, paralleling the increasing numbers of systematic reviews and meta-analysis published in the biomedical literature. However, many clinicians and decision-makers may be unfamiliar with the underlying principles and assumptions made within meta-regression leading to incorrect interpretation of their results. AIMS: This paper reviews the appropriate use and interpretation of meta-regression in the medical literature, including cautions and caveats to its use. MATERIALS & METHODS: A literature search of MEDLINE (OVID) from 1966-February 2009 was conducted to identify literature relevant to the topic of heterogeneity and/or meta-regression in systematic reviews and meta-analysis. RESULTS: Meta-analysis, a statistical method of pooling data from studies included in a systematic review, is often compromised by heterogeneity of its results. This could include clinical, methodological or statistical heterogeneity. Meta-regression, said to be a merging of meta-analytic and linear regression principles, is a more sophisticated tool for exploring heterogeneity. It aims to discern whether a linear relationship exists between an outcome measure and on or more covariates. The associations found in a meta-regression should be considered hypothesis generating and not regarded as proof of causality. CONCLUSIONS: The current review will enable clinicians and healthcare decision-makers to appropriately interpret the results of meta-regression when used within the constructs of a systematic review, and be able to extend it to their clinical practice. %@ 1742-1241; 1368-5031

@article{Baker2009, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Meta-regression has grown in popularity in recent years, paralleling the increasing numbers of systematic reviews and meta-analysis published in the biomedical literature. However, many clinicians and decision-makers may be unfamiliar with the underlying principles and assumptions made within meta-regression leading to incorrect interpretation of their results. AIMS: This paper reviews the appropriate use and interpretation of meta-regression in the medical literature, including cautions and caveats to its use. MATERIALS & METHODS: A literature search of MEDLINE (OVID) from 1966-February 2009 was conducted to identify literature relevant to the topic of heterogeneity and/or meta-regression in systematic reviews and meta-analysis. RESULTS: Meta-analysis, a statistical method of pooling data from studies included in a systematic review, is often compromised by heterogeneity of its results. This could include clinical, methodological or statistical heterogeneity. Meta-regression, said to be a merging of meta-analytic and linear regression principles, is a more sophisticated tool for exploring heterogeneity. It aims to discern whether a linear relationship exists between an outcome measure and on or more covariates. The associations found in a meta-regression should be considered hypothesis generating and not regarded as proof of causality. CONCLUSIONS: The current review will enable clinicians and healthcare decision-makers to appropriately interpret the results of meta-regression when used within the constructs of a systematic review, and be able to extend it to their clinical practice.}, added-at = {2023-02-03T11:44:35.000+0100}, author = {Baker, W L and White, C Michael and Cappelleri, J C and Kluger, J and Coleman, C I}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/27b24a5a4251eb29f7d0c2770ca55e4e4/jepcastel}, city = {University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.}, doi = {10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02168.x}, interhash = {e2f4071df0b20ff99e035d2837e4d4a8}, intrahash = {7b24a5a4251eb29f7d0c2770ca55e4e4}, isbn = {1742-1241; 1368-5031}, issn = {1742-1241}, journal = {International journal of clinical practice}, keywords = {Bias(Epidemiology) DataDisplay DataInterpretation Meta-AnalysisasTopic RandomAllocation RegressionAnalysis Statistical}, month = {10}, note = {5756<br/>JID: 9712381; ppublish;<br/>Metaanàlisi; Metaregressió; Heterogeneïtat}, number = 10, pages = {1426-34}, pmid = {19769699}, timestamp = {2023-02-03T11:44:35.000+0100}, title = {Understanding heterogeneity in meta-analysis: the role of meta-regression.}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19769699}, volume = 63, year = 2009 }