A guide to systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic factor studies

Richard D. Riley; Karel G.M. Moons; Kym I.E. Snell; Joie Ensor; Lotty Hooft; Douglas G. Altman; Jill Hayden; Gary S. Collins; Thomas P.A. Debray

doi:10.1136/bmj.k4597

A guide to systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic factor studies

Richard D. Riley, Karel G.M. Moons, Kym I.E. Snell, Joie Ensor, Lotty Hooft, Douglas G. Altman, Jill Hayden, Gary S. Collins, Thomas P.A. Debray

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

492 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Prognostic factors are associated with the risk of future health outcomes in individuals with a particular health condition or some clinical start point (eg, a particular diagnosis). Research to identify genuine prognostic factors is important because these factors can help improve risk stratification, treatment, and lifestyle decisions, and the design of randomised trials. Although thousands of prognostic factor studies are published each year, often they are of variable quality and the findings are inconsistent. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are therefore needed that summarise the evidence about the prognostic value of particular factors. In this article, the key steps involved in this review process are described.

Original language	English
Article number	k4597
Journal	The BMJ
Volume	364
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4597
Publication status	Published - Jan 30 2019
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: RDR and KIES are supported by funding from the Evidence Synthesis Working Group, which is funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR; project No 390). KIES is also supported by a launching fellowship from the NIHR SPCR. TPAD was supported by funding from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (91617050 and 91215058). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, NHS, Department of Health, or the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. GSC was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford. We gratefully acknowledge the Cochrane Methods Innovation Fund and the Cochrane Strategic Methods Fund for their contribution.

Publisher Copyright:
© Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

General Medicine

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Journal Article

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abstract = "Prognostic factors are associated with the risk of future health outcomes in individuals with a particular health condition or some clinical start point (eg, a particular diagnosis). Research to identify genuine prognostic factors is important because these factors can help improve risk stratification, treatment, and lifestyle decisions, and the design of randomised trials. Although thousands of prognostic factor studies are published each year, often they are of variable quality and the findings are inconsistent. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are therefore needed that summarise the evidence about the prognostic value of particular factors. In this article, the key steps involved in this review process are described.",

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note = "Funding Information: Funding: RDR and KIES are supported by funding from the Evidence Synthesis Working Group, which is funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR; project No 390). KIES is also supported by a launching fellowship from the NIHR SPCR. TPAD was supported by funding from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (91617050 and 91215058). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, NHS, Department of Health, or the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. GSC was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford. We gratefully acknowledge the Cochrane Methods Innovation Fund and the Cochrane Strategic Methods Fund for their contribution. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited.",

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AU - Moons, Karel G.M.

AU - Snell, Kym I.E.

AU - Ensor, Joie

AU - Hooft, Lotty

AU - Altman, Douglas G.

AU - Hayden, Jill

AU - Collins, Gary S.

AU - Debray, Thomas P.A.

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A guide to systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic factor studies

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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PubMed: MeSH publication types

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