Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisions
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses play a crucial role in clinical research by providing a means of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in situations of uncertainty. Pairwise meta-analysis, which is the most widely used method, compares active interventions to placebos or other treatment...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398424000277 |
| _version_ | 1797317491301548032 |
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| author | Nishant Jaiswal Ryan Field |
| author_facet | Nishant Jaiswal Ryan Field |
| author_sort | Nishant Jaiswal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Systematic reviews and meta-analyses play a crucial role in clinical research by providing a means of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in situations of uncertainty. Pairwise meta-analysis, which is the most widely used method, compares active interventions to placebos or other treatments. However, this approach has limitations in its ability to assess multiple interventions simultaneously, making it less suitable for comprehensive decision-making. This is where Network Meta-analysis (NMA) comes in, which extends pairwise meta-analysis to allow for the assessment of more than two interventions within a single analysis, even when direct head-to-head comparisons are not available. NMA shares similarities with pairwise meta-analysis, including systematic literature searches, bias assessment, data extraction, and statistical pooling. Two critical assumptions underlie NMA: transitivity and consistency. NMA can be performed using frequentist or Bayesian approaches, with both fixed and random effects models. Recent developments such as population adjustment methods and Component NMA have enhanced its utility. The significant advantage of NMA is its ability to generate treatment rankings based on the probability of each treatment being the most effective. Web-based applications such as MetaInsight and NMA Studio simplify the NMA process, making it more accessible without coding skills. NMA is essential in evidence-based decision-making, providing comprehensive comparisons of multiple interventions, overcoming the limitations of pairwise meta-analysis. While challenges persist, transparency is maintained, and decision-making bodies recognize NMA's value. NMA is a powerful tool that defines the future of healthcare decision-making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:36:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc30d78ac08d4ea698706ebe36efe164 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-3984 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:36:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc30d78ac08d4ea698706ebe36efe1642024-02-10T04:44:21ZengElsevierClinical Epidemiology and Global Health2213-39842024-03-0126101531Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisionsNishant Jaiswal0Ryan Field1Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK; NIHR Evidence Synthesis Group @Complex Review Support Unit, UK; Corresponding author. Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Clarice Pears Building, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8TB, UK.Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK; NIHR Evidence Synthesis Group @Complex Review Support Unit, UKSystematic reviews and meta-analyses play a crucial role in clinical research by providing a means of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in situations of uncertainty. Pairwise meta-analysis, which is the most widely used method, compares active interventions to placebos or other treatments. However, this approach has limitations in its ability to assess multiple interventions simultaneously, making it less suitable for comprehensive decision-making. This is where Network Meta-analysis (NMA) comes in, which extends pairwise meta-analysis to allow for the assessment of more than two interventions within a single analysis, even when direct head-to-head comparisons are not available. NMA shares similarities with pairwise meta-analysis, including systematic literature searches, bias assessment, data extraction, and statistical pooling. Two critical assumptions underlie NMA: transitivity and consistency. NMA can be performed using frequentist or Bayesian approaches, with both fixed and random effects models. Recent developments such as population adjustment methods and Component NMA have enhanced its utility. The significant advantage of NMA is its ability to generate treatment rankings based on the probability of each treatment being the most effective. Web-based applications such as MetaInsight and NMA Studio simplify the NMA process, making it more accessible without coding skills. NMA is essential in evidence-based decision-making, providing comprehensive comparisons of multiple interventions, overcoming the limitations of pairwise meta-analysis. While challenges persist, transparency is maintained, and decision-making bodies recognize NMA's value. NMA is a powerful tool that defines the future of healthcare decision-making.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398424000277Network meta-analysisDecision makingIndirect treatment comparisons |
| spellingShingle | Nishant Jaiswal Ryan Field Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisions Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health Network meta-analysis Decision making Indirect treatment comparisons |
| title | Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisions |
| title_full | Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisions |
| title_fullStr | Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisions |
| title_short | Network meta-analysis: The way forward for evidence-based decisions |
| title_sort | network meta analysis the way forward for evidence based decisions |
| topic | Network meta-analysis Decision making Indirect treatment comparisons |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398424000277 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nishantjaiswal networkmetaanalysisthewayforwardforevidencebaseddecisions AT ryanfield networkmetaanalysisthewayforwardforevidencebaseddecisions |