HELOW: A program for testing extreme homogeneity in meta-analysis
Meta-analysis aims to synthesize results from different studies. Although, in a meta-analysis the presence of large between-study heterogeneity is routinely evaluated, in some instances is also important to probe whether there is extreme between-study homogeneity (i.e. extreme low between-study heterogeneity). HELOW (HEterogeneity LOW) is a program for testing extreme homogeneity in a meta-analysis of risk ratios when binary outcome and MantelHaenszel fixed effects summary risk ratio estimate are employed. The significance of extreme homogeneity is assessed using a Monte Carlo test. Extreme homogeneity may yield insights for the statistical and clinical interpretation of the data.
homogeneity meta-analysis heterogeneity risk ratio monte carlo