Universität zu Köln

Goldkuhle, Marius ORCID: 0000-0001-8747-6770, Hirsch, Caroline ORCID: 0000-0002-2011-1010, Iannizzi, Claire ORCID: 0000-0002-6130-5997, Zorger, Ana-Mihaela ORCID: 0000-0002-0493-9790, Bender, Ralf ORCID: 0000-0002-2422-4362, van Dalen, Elvira C., Hemkens, Lars G., Monsef, Ina ORCID: 0000-0002-7794-9383, Kreuzberger, Nina ORCID: 0000-0001-8922-0488 and Skoetz, Nicole ORCID: 0000-0003-4744-6192 (2024). Exploring the characteristics, methods and reporting of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of time-to-event outcomes: a meta-epidemiological study. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 24 (1). pp. 1-12. Springer Nature. ISSN 1471-2288

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr.: 291] Background: Time-to-event analysis is associated with methodological complexities. Previous research identified flaws in the reporting of time-to-event analyses in randomized trial publications. These hardships impose challenges for meta-analyses of time-to-event outcomes based on aggregate data. We examined the characteristics, reporting and methods of systematic reviews including such analyses. Methods: Through a systematic search (02/2017-08/2020), we identified 50 Cochrane Reviews with ≥ 1 meta-analysis based on the hazard ratio (HR) and a corresponding random sample ( n = 50) from core clinical journals (Medline; 08/02/2021). Data was extracted in duplicate and included outcome definitions, general and time-to-event specific methods and handling of time-to-event relevant trial characteristics. Results: The included reviews analyzed 217 time-to-event outcomes (Median: 2; IQR 1–2), most frequently overall survival (41%). Outcome definitions were provided for less than half of time-to-event outcomes (48%). Few reviews specified general methods, e.g., included analysis types (intention-to-treat, per protocol) (35%) and adjustment of effect estimates (12%). Sources that review authors used for retrieval of time-to-event summary data from publications varied substantially. Most frequently reported were direct inclusion of HRs (64%) and reference to established guidance without further specification (46%). Study characteristics important to time-to-event analysis, such as variable follow-up, informative censoring or proportional hazards, were rarely reported. If presented, complementary absolute effect estimates calculated based on the pooled HR were incorrectly calculated (14%) or correct but falsely labeled (11%) in several reviews. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that limitations in reporting of trial time-to-event analyses translate to the review level as well. Inconsistent reporting of meta-analyses of time-to-event outcomes necessitates additional reporting standards.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Goldkuhle, Marius UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8747-6770 UNSPECIFIED Hirsch, Caroline UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2011-1010 UNSPECIFIED Iannizzi, Claire UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6130-5997 UNSPECIFIED Zorger, Ana-Mihaela UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0493-9790 UNSPECIFIED Bender, Ralf UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2422-4362 UNSPECIFIED van Dalen, Elvira C. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hemkens, Lars G. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Monsef, Ina UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7794-9383 UNSPECIFIED Kreuzberger, Nina UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8922-0488 UNSPECIFIED Skoetz, Nicole UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4744-6192 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-816075
Identification Number:	10.1186/s12874-024-02401-4
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Medical Research Methodology
Volume:	24
Number:	1
Page Range:	pp. 1-12
Number of Pages:	12
Date:	25 November 2024
Publisher:	Springer Nature
ISSN:	1471-2288
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Gesundheitsökonomie > Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie und Klinische Epidemiologie
Subjects:	Medical sciences Medicine
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Systematic review ; Meta-analysis ; Time-to-event outcomes ; Survival analysis ; Reporting quality ; Quantitative analysis English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/81607