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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Sep 20;21(1):189.
doi: 10.1186/s12874-021-01381-z.

Conducting proportional meta-analysis in different types of systematic reviews: a guide for synthesisers of evidence

Timothy Hugh Barker  1 , Celina Borges Migliavaca  2 , Cinara Stein  3 , Verônica Colpani  3 , Maicon Falavigna  2   3   4 , Edoardo Aromataris  5 , Zachary Munn  5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Conducting proportional meta-analysis in different types of systematic reviews: a guide for synthesisers of evidence

Timothy Hugh Barker et al. BMC Med Res Methodol. .

Abstract

Background: Single group data present unique challenges for synthesises of evidence. Proportional meta-analysis is becoming an increasingly common technique employed for the synthesis of single group data. Proportional meta-analysis shares many similarities with the conduct and reporting of comparative, or pairwise, meta-analysis. While robust and comprehensive methods exist detailing how researchers can conduct a meta-analysis that compares two (or more) groups against a common intervention, there is a scarcity of methodological guidance available to assist synthesisers of evidence in the conduct, interpretation, and importance of proportional meta-analysis in systematic reviews.

Main body: This paper presents an overview targeted to synthesisers of evidence and systematic review authors that details the methods, importance, and interpretation of a proportional meta-analysis. We provide worked examples of how proportional meta-analyses have been conducted in research syntheses previously and consider the methods, statistical considerations, and presentation of this technique.

Conclusion: This overview is designed to serve as practical guidance for synthesisers of evidence in the conduct of proportional meta-analyses.

Keywords: Proportional meta-analysis; Research synthesis; Systematic reviews; meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests and no funding was received for this work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Example prevalence proportional meta-analysis investigating overall prevalence of cervical infection by HPV-18 in Brazil. Created in R, package meta. Reproduced under Creative Commons from: Colpani, V et al. “Prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in Brazil: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. PloS one 15.2 (2020): e0229154 [20]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Example prevalence proportional meta-analysis of events, assessing MRI scan terminations or refusals due to claustrophobia. Recreated in JBI SUMARI software using data from: Munn, Z et al. “Claustrophobia in magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Radiography 21.2 (2015): e59-e63 [12]
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Union (overall) with revision surgery with or without wires/ cerclage/ cables following hemi or total hip arthroplasty. Created in MedCalc software from: Ianunzio, I et al. “Effectiveness of operative interventions in individuals with a hemi or total hip arthroplasty who sustain a Vancouver B2 peri-prosthetic femoral fracture” [Thesis] The University of Adelaide (2018) [27]
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Deep surgical site infection with revision surgery with or without wires/ cerclage/ cables following hemi or total hip arthroplasty. Created in MedCalc software from: Ianunzio, I et al. “Effectiveness of operative interventions in individuals with a hemi or total hip arthroplasty who sustain a Vancouver B2 peri-prosthetic femoral fracture” [Thesis] The University of Adelaide (2018) [27]
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Example prevalence proportional meta-analysis of events, assessing MRI scan terminations or refusals due to claustrophobia. Annotated labels highlight key features that should be presented in a proportional meta-analysis and illustrative forest plot. Figure recreated in JBI SUMARI software using data from: Munn, Z et al. “Claustrophobia in magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Radiography 21.2 (2015): e59-e63 [12]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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