Publication Digest: When a meta-analysis can be really useful?

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Publications Digest. 

In a recent publication, Basile et al. reviewed the role of meta-analyses in evidence-based medicine. The authors highlighted that meta-analyses are particularly valuable when randomized controlled trials are underpowered, infeasible, or when subgroup analyses are limited, but they also cautioned against risks such as publication bias and heterogeneity. To address these challenges, the authors pointed to advanced methods like individual patient data and network meta-analyses, umbrella reviews, and trial sequential analysis as tools to improve the reliability of conclusions.

Access the full-text article here.