Department of Cardiovascular Radiology and Endovascular Interventions, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 Feb;38(2):317-325. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2021.2015160. Epub 2021 Dec 14.
With constantly emerging new information regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), reviewing literature related to it has become increasingly complicated and resource-intensive. In the setting of this global pandemic, clinical decisions are being guided by the results of multiple pertinent studies; however, it has been observed that these studies are often heterogenous in design and population characteristics and results of initial trials may not be replicated in subsequent studies. The resulting clinical conundrum can be resolved by high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis with a robust and reliable methodology, encapsulating and critically appraising all the available literature relevant to the clinical scenario under scrutiny. It can condense the large volume of scientific information available and can also identify the cause of differences in the degree of effect under consideration across different studies. It can identify optimal diagnostic algorithms, assess efficacy of treatment strategies, and analyze inherent factors influencing the efficacy of treatment for COVID-19. The current review aims to provide a basic guide to plan and conduct a high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis pertaining to COVID-19, describing the main steps and addressing the pitfalls commonly encountered at each step. Knowledge of the basic steps would also allow the reader to critically appraise published systematic review and meta-analysis and the quality of evidence provided therein.
随着有关 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的流行病学、发病机制、诊断和管理的新信息不断涌现，相关文献的回顾变得越来越复杂和耗费资源。在全球大流行的背景下，临床决策受到多项相关研究结果的指导；然而，人们观察到这些研究在设计和人群特征上往往存在异质性，初始试验的结果在后续研究中可能无法复制。通过采用高质量、稳健可靠的方法进行系统评价和荟萃分析，可以解决由此产生的临床难题，该方法可以总结所有与正在研究的临床情况相关的现有文献，并对其进行批判性评估。它可以浓缩大量的科学信息，还可以确定在不同研究中考虑的不同效应程度的差异的原因。它可以确定最佳的诊断算法，评估治疗策略的疗效，并分析影响 COVID-19 治疗效果的内在因素。本综述旨在为 COVID-19 的高质量系统评价和荟萃分析的计划和实施提供基本指南，描述主要步骤，并解决每个步骤中常见的陷阱。了解基本步骤还可以使读者批判性地评估已发表的系统评价和荟萃分析及其提供的证据质量。
