Affiliation:
1. Department of Medical Statistics University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen Germany
2. DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Göttingen Göttingen Germany
Abstract
ABSTRACTMeta‐analyses are commonly performed based on random‐effects models, while in certain cases one might also argue in favor of a common‐effect model. One such case may be given by the example of two “study twins” that are performed according to a common (or at least very similar) protocol. Here we investigate the particular case of meta‐analysis of a pair of studies, for example, summarizing the results of two confirmatory clinical trials in phase III of a clinical development program. Thereby, we focus on the question of to what extent homogeneity or heterogeneity may be discernible and include an empirical investigation of published (“twin”) pairs of studies. A pair of estimates from two studies only provide very little evidence of homogeneity or heterogeneity of effects, and ad hoc decision criteria may often be misleading.
Funder
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft