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AuthorPengli, Jia
AuthorLin, Lifeng
AuthorKwong, Joey S W
AuthorXu, Chang
Available date2021-02-07T09:27:29Z
Publication Date2021-03-31
Publication NameJournal of Clinical Epidemiology
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.11.017
ISSN08954356
URIhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895435620311884
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/17559
AbstractBackground and ObjectiveMeta-analysis is a statistical method with the ability to increase the power for statistical inference, while it may still face the problem of being underpowered. In this study, we investigated the power to detect certain true effects for published meta-analyses of rare events. MethodsWe extracted data from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for meta-analyses of rare events from January 2003 to May 2018. We retrospectively estimated the power to detect a 10–50% relative risk reduction (RRR) of eligible meta-analyses. The proportion of meta-analyses achieved a sufficient power (≥0.8) were estimated. ResultsWe identified 4,177 meta-analyses. The median power to detect 10%, 30%, and 50% RRR were 0.06 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.05 to 0.06), 0.08 (IQR: 0.06 to 0.15), and 0.17 (IQR: 0.10 to 0.42), respectively); the corresponding proportion of meta-analyses that reached sufficient power were 0.32%, 3.68%, and 11.81%. Meta-analyses incorporating data from more studies had higher probability to achieve a sufficient power (rate ratio = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.76, 3.52, P < 0.001). ConclusionMost of the meta-analyses of rare events in Cochrane systematic reviews were underpowered. Future meta-analysis of rare events should report the power of the results to support informative conclusions.
SponsorWe would like to thank Qatar National Library for funding the Open Access payment.
Languageen
PublisherElsevier
SubjectMeta-analysis of rare events
Power analysis
Cochrane systematic reviews
Statistical inference
Decision-making
Relative risk redcution
TitleMany meta-analyses of rare events in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were underpowered
TypeArticle
Pagination113-122
Volume Number131
Open Access user License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.accessType Open Access


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