Evaluating the Quality of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses About Breast Augmentation Using AMSTAR

Morgan Yuan; Jeremy Wu; Ryan E Austin; Frank Lista; Jamil Ahmad

doi:10.1093/asjof/ojab020

Evaluating the Quality of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses About Breast Augmentation Using AMSTAR

Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2021 May 22;3(3):ojab020. doi: 10.1093/asjof/ojab020. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Authors

Morgan Yuan¹, Jeremy Wu², Ryan E Austin^{1

2

3}, Frank Lista³, Jamil Ahmad³

Affiliations

¹ Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
² University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries worldwide. Therefore, it is imperative to have evidence with high methodological quality to guide clinical decision making.

Objectives: To evaluate the methodological quality of the systematic reviews (SRs) focused on breast augmentation.

Methods: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews was performed. SRs that have a particular focus on breast augmentation and were published in the top 15 plastic and reconstructive surgery journals were included. Quality assessment was performed using a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR). Study characteristics were extracted including journal and impact factor, year of publication, country affiliation of the corresponding author, reporting adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, number of citations, and number of studies included.

Results: Among the 22 studies included for analysis, the mean AMSTAR score was moderate (5.55), with no SR achieving good quality (AMSTAR score of ≥9). There were no significant associations between AMSTAR score and journal impact factor, number of citations, year of publication, or number of included studies. Studies that reported adherence to PRISMA guidelines on average scored higher on the AMSTAR tool (P = 0.03).

Conclusions: The methodological quality of reviews about breast augmentation was found to be moderate, with no significant increase in studies or quality over time. Adherence to PRISMA guidelines and increased appraisal of SRs about breast augmentation using methodological assessment tools would further strengthen methodological quality and confidence in study findings.