Meta-analysis of binary outcomes from two-by-two tables when the length of follow-up varies and hazards are proportional

Stat Methods Med Res. 2011 Oct;20(5):531-40. doi: 10.1177/0962280210379172. Epub 2010 Aug 17.

Abstract

Odds ratios (ORs) and relative risks (RRs) are sensitive to the length of follow-up. In meta-analyses, pooling such results from studies with different lengths of follow-up may lead to an artificial heterogeneity and discrepancy caused by the choice of the summary index. In this article, we explore the utility of a meta-analysis method that uses the ratio of logarithms of survival probability as the measure of association, and that avoids the problems mentioned above when hazards are proportional. Meta-analyses of ORs, RRs and ratios of logarithms of survival probability are compared through a simulation study, in which data are simulated from a proportional hazard model and the length of follow-up varies across studies using realistic patterns of variability. Results show that the heterogeneity increases with the variability of length of follow-up for OR and RR, but not for the ratio of the logarithms of survival probability. A published meta-analysis is used to illustrate the method.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Colorectal Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Proportional Hazards Models*
  • Survival Analysis