Random-Effects Meta-analysis of Inconsistent Effects
Authors: NaNa Keum, Chung-Cheng Hsieh, Nancy Cook
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Letters2 September 2014Random-Effects Meta-analysis of Inconsistent EffectsNaNa Keum, MS, Chung-Cheng Hsieh, ScD, and Nancy Cook, ScDNaNa Keum, MSFrom Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.Search for more papers by this author, Chung-Cheng Hsieh, ScDFrom Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.Search for more papers by this author, and Nancy Cook, ScDFrom Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L14-5017-8 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We read Cornell and colleagues' (1) article with great interest. Meta-analysis, a statistical synthesis of independent but similar studies, has been widely used to derive a quantitative summary of the available evidence. Currently, the random-effects model based on the DerSimonian–Laird estimator (2) is generally the standard approach unless there is a strong a priori scientific belief about the homogeneous nature of the study effect. Because results from meta-analyses have great implications for guiding clinical practice and making public health recommendations, there are important considerations for revisiting meta-analysis methodology.Cornell and colleagues highlight 1 problem with this method: ...References1. Cornell JE, Mulrow CD, Localio R, Stack CB, Meibohm AR, Guallar E, et al. Random-effects meta-analysis of inconsistent effects: a time for change. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160:267-70. [PMID: 24727843] doi:10.7326/M13-2886 LinkGoogle Scholar2. DerSimonian R, Laird N. Meta-analysis in clinical trials. Control Clin Trials. 1986;7:177-88. [PMID: 3802833] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Peto R, Awasthi S, Read S, Clark S, Bundy D. Vitamin A supplementation in Indian children—authors' reply [Letter]. Lancet. 2013;382:594-6. [PMID: 23953381] doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61741-9 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Shore RE, Gardner MJ, Pannett B. Ethylene oxide: an assessment of the epidemiological evidence on carcinogenicity. Br J Ind Med. 1993;50:971-97. [PMID: 8280635] MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L14-0309. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoRandom-Effects Meta-analysis of Inconsistent Effects: A Time for Change John E. Cornell , Cynthia D. Mulrow , Russell Localio , Catharine B. Stack , Anne R. Meibohm , Eliseo Guallar , and Steven N. Goodman Metrics Cited byEffect of Urate-Lowering Therapy on Cardiovascular and Kidney Outcomes 2 September 2014Volume 161, Issue 5Page: 379-380KeywordsConflicts of interestDisclosurePrevention, policy, and public health ePublished: 2 September 2014 Issue Published: 2 September 2014 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2014 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...