Characteristic | Studies |
---|---|
n (%) | |
Primary studies included (median [IQR]) | 10 [7–17] |
Number of RCTs included (median [IQR]) | 3 [1–6] |
Number of OSs included (median [IQR]) | 6.5 [3–12] |
Type of outcome analysed | |
 Primary analysis | 113 (86) |
 Secondary analysis | 12 (9) |
 Efficacy outcome | 84 (64) |
 Safety outcome | 28 (21) |
Type of data pooled | |
 Adjusted | 7 (5) |
 Not adjusted | 5 (4) |
 Both adjusted and non-adjusted | 7 (5) |
 Other | 5 (4) |
 Not reported | 108 (82) |
Synthesis model | |
 Random effects model | 73 (55) |
 Common effect model | 3 (2) |
 Both models | 53 (40) |
 Other | 1 (1) |
 Not reported | 2 (2) |
Types of effects reported | |
 Effect estimates for each primary study | 121 (92) |
 Meta-analysis summary effect | 77 (58) |
 Effects stratified by study design | 44 (34) |
Statistical heterogeneity evaluation | N = 132 |
 I2 | 123 (93) |
 Q test | 25 (19) |
 Tau | 32 (24) |
Statistical heterogeneity exploration | N = 105 |
 Sensitivity analyses | 71 (68) |
 Subgroup analyses | 75 (70) |
 Meta-regression | 23 (22) |
Source of heterogeneity studied by the meta-analyses’ authors | N = 105a |
 Study design | 283 (79) |
 Risk of bias of the primary studies | 47 (45) |
 Study population characteristics | 37 (35) |
 Other confounding factors | 11 (10) |
 Outcome assessment | 24 (23) |
Publication bias and small study effect evaluation | |
 Graphical evaluation | 85 (64) |
 Statistical evaluation | 66 (50) |
 No evaluation | 40 (30) |