COSMOS-E: Guidance on conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies of etiology.
- Dekkers OM Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
- Vandenbroucke JP Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
- Cevallos M Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Renehan AG Manchester Cancer Research Centre, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
- Altman DG Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
- Egger M Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- 2019-02-22
Published in:
- PLoS medicine. - 2019
Humans
Meta-Analysis as Topic
Observational Studies as Topic
Selection Bias
Systematic Reviews as Topic
English
BACKGROUND
To our knowledge, no publication providing overarching guidance on the conduct of systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology exists.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
Conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies of Etiology (COSMOS-E) provides guidance on all steps in systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, from shaping the research question, defining exposure and outcomes, to assessing the risk of bias and statistical analysis. The writing group included researchers experienced in meta-analyses and observational studies of etiology. Standard peer-review was performed. While the structure of systematic reviews of observational studies on etiology may be similar to that for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials, there are specific tasks within each component that differ. Examples include assessment for confounding, selection bias, and information bias. In systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, combining studies in meta-analysis may lead to more precise estimates, but such greater precision does not automatically remedy potential bias. Thorough exploration of sources of heterogeneity is key when assessing the validity of estimates and causality.
CONCLUSION
As many reviews of observational studies on etiology are being performed, this document may provide researchers with guidance on how to conduct and analyse such reviews.
To our knowledge, no publication providing overarching guidance on the conduct of systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology exists.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
Conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies of Etiology (COSMOS-E) provides guidance on all steps in systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, from shaping the research question, defining exposure and outcomes, to assessing the risk of bias and statistical analysis. The writing group included researchers experienced in meta-analyses and observational studies of etiology. Standard peer-review was performed. While the structure of systematic reviews of observational studies on etiology may be similar to that for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials, there are specific tasks within each component that differ. Examples include assessment for confounding, selection bias, and information bias. In systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, combining studies in meta-analysis may lead to more precise estimates, but such greater precision does not automatically remedy potential bias. Thorough exploration of sources of heterogeneity is key when assessing the validity of estimates and causality.
CONCLUSION
As many reviews of observational studies on etiology are being performed, this document may provide researchers with guidance on how to conduct and analyse such reviews.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002742
- PMID 30789892
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/247812
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