Get real in individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis: a review of the methodology

• Published in: Research synthesis methods Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 293 - 309
• Main Authors: Debray, Thomas P. A., Moons, Karel G. M., van Valkenhoef, Gert, Efthimiou, Orestis, Hummel, Noemi, Groenwold, Rolf H. H., Reitsma, Johannes B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2015; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Clinical trials; Computer Software; cross-design; Data analysis; Data Interpretation, Statistical; evidence synthesis; Humans; IPD; Linear Models; Literature Reviews; Medical treatment; Meta Analysis; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Models, Statistical; non-randomized intervention studies; NRSI; Outcomes of Treatment; Proportional Hazards Models; Randomized Controlled Trials; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - statistics & numerical data; RCT; Research Design; Research Methodology; review; Software; Statistical Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Tutorial; Tutorials; RCT; cross-design; review; non-randomized intervention studies; meta-analysis; evidence synthesis; IPD; NRSI
• ISSN: 1759-2879; 1759-2887
• DOI: 10.1002/jrsm.1160

Individual participant data (IPD) meta‐analysis is an increasingly used approach for synthesizing and investigating treatment effect estimates. Over the past few years, numerous methods for conducting an IPD meta‐analysis (IPD‐MA) have been proposed, often making different assumptions and modeling choices while addressing a similar research question. We conducted a literature review to provide an overview of methods for performing an IPD‐MA using evidence from clinical trials or non‐randomized studies when investigating treatment efficacy. With this review, we aim to assist researchers in choosing the appropriate methods and provide recommendations on their implementation when planning and conducting an IPD‐MA. © 2015 The Authors. Research Synthesis Methods published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.