Network meta-analyses in reproductive medicine: challenges and opportunities. Issue 8 (14th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Rui; Seidler, Anna Lene; Askie, Lisa; Norman, Robert J; Bhattacharya, Siladitya; van Wely, Madelon; Mol, Ben Willem
• Is Part Of: Human reproduction. Volume 35:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: 1723
• Page End: 1731
• Publication Date: 2020-07-14
• Subjects: network meta-analysis -- meta-analysis -- systematic review -- evidence synthesis -- reproductive medicine -- infertility -- transitivity -- reporting -- certainty of evidence; Human reproduction -- Periodicals; 618
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa126
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-1161

Abstract

Abstract: Network meta-analysis allows researchers to synthesise both direct and indirect evidence, thus enabling simultaneous comparisons of multiple treatments. A relatively recent addition to evidence synthesis in reproductive medicine, this approach has become increasingly popular. Yet, the underlying assumptions of network meta-analyses, which drive the validity of their findings, have been frequently ignored. In this article, we discuss the strengths and limitations of network meta-analyses. In addition, we present an overview of published network meta-analyses in reproductive medicine, summarize their challenges and provide insights into future research opportunities.