Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Medical Cluster, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore city, Singapore.
Int J Rheum Dis. 2010 May;13(2):101-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1756-185X.2010.01471.x.
Meta-analysis, a complex statistical method which involves synthesis of data from relevant studies to devise an effect size or a conclusion, has increasingly been recognized and impacts on evidence-based medicine, especially in the field of health science. Thanks to the advent and unmet need of evidence-based medicine, since the first recordable publication of a meta-analysis in 1904 addressing the effectiveness of typhoid vaccine, both the number and quality of meta-analyses published relating to healthcare science have been on a steep rise. If properly conducted, based on answering relevant clinical questions, strict selection criteria of participating studies, appropriate analytical methods, and proper presentation of results, coupled with critical and faithful discussion on the strength and weakness of the analysis, meta-analysis will definitely be an invaluable tool for clinicians and researchers in understanding epidemiology, justifying and refining hypotheses of various diseases, for medical practitioners to implement sound management decisions based on evidence-based medicine, and ultimately, for policy-makers to formulate cost-efficient treatment strategies, guidelines and legislation. In this first paper of a mini-series, the current trend of meta-analysis publications in the medical literature, examples of important meta-analyses relevant to rheumatology and the pros and cons of meta-analysis, will be discussed. Important terminology related to meta-analysis, the systematic ways to critically appraise, and finally the preferred methodology of conducting meta-analysis will be covered in the subsequent three reviews of this mini-series.
元分析是一种复杂的统计方法，涉及综合相关研究的数据以得出效应大小或结论，它越来越受到认可，并对循证医学产生影响，特别是在健康科学领域。由于循证医学的出现和需求未得到满足，自 1904 年首次记录了一项关于伤寒疫苗有效性的元分析以来，与医疗保健科学相关的元分析的数量和质量都呈急剧上升趋势。如果正确进行，根据回答相关临床问题、严格选择参与研究的标准、适当的分析方法以及正确呈现结果，并对分析的优缺点进行批判性和忠实的讨论，元分析肯定将成为临床医生和研究人员理解流行病学、证明和完善各种疾病假设的宝贵工具，为医疗从业者提供基于循证医学的合理管理决策，并最终为决策者制定具有成本效益的治疗策略、指南和立法。在这个迷你系列的第一篇论文中，将讨论医学文献中元分析出版物的当前趋势、与风湿病相关的重要元分析示例以及元分析的优缺点。本迷你系列的后续三篇评论将涵盖与元分析相关的重要术语、批判性评估的系统方法，以及最后进行元分析的首选方法。
