Table 3 Comparison of existing evidence on effectiveness of weight management interventions and the proposed IPD meta-analysis
Characteristics | Existing systematic reviews | Published and ongoing primary studies | Proposed IPD meta-analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Consistent inclusion and exclusion criteria e.g. BMI, risk status | x | √ | √ |
Assessment of effect of prognostic factors on treatment effect e.g. diabetic status, chronic hypertension | x | √ | √ |
Missing data observed and accounted at individual level | x | √ | √ |
All critically important maternal and fetal outcomes considered | √ | x | √ |
Potential for sufficient power to assess for differential treatment effect across groups e.g. BMI, ethnicity, race, parity | x | x | √ |
Standardisation of statistical analysis across studies | x | N/A | √ |
Correlation between multiple end points accounted e.g. each participant providing data on gestational weight gain in various trimesters and weight retention postpartum | x | √ | √ |
Up to date follow-up information, potentially longer than that used in the original study publication | x | x | √ |