TY - JOUR
T1 - Meta-analyses on viral hepatitis
AU - Gluud, Lise L
AU - Gluud, Christian
N1 - Keywords: Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Humans; Immunotherapy; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Vaccination
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - This article summarizes the meta-analyses of interventions for viral hepatitis A, B, and C. Some of the interventions assessed are described in small trials with unclear bias control. Other interventions are supported by large, high-quality trials. Although attempts have been made to adjust for unclear bias control, analysis of publication bias and other biases is difficult when only few trials are available. It is possible that some of the meta-analyses presented in this article are biased. Furthermore, performing updated cumulative meta-analyses also may introduce random error.3,4 The extent and direction of bias may vary. On average, however, bias leads to overestimated intervention benefits.1 Accordingly, the benefit of some of the interventions suggested in this article may be exaggerated by systematic and random errors. Additional research including large, randomized trials is necessary to clarify the true intervention effects.
AB - This article summarizes the meta-analyses of interventions for viral hepatitis A, B, and C. Some of the interventions assessed are described in small trials with unclear bias control. Other interventions are supported by large, high-quality trials. Although attempts have been made to adjust for unclear bias control, analysis of publication bias and other biases is difficult when only few trials are available. It is possible that some of the meta-analyses presented in this article are biased. Furthermore, performing updated cumulative meta-analyses also may introduce random error.3,4 The extent and direction of bias may vary. On average, however, bias leads to overestimated intervention benefits.1 Accordingly, the benefit of some of the interventions suggested in this article may be exaggerated by systematic and random errors. Additional research including large, randomized trials is necessary to clarify the true intervention effects.
U2 - 10.1016/j.idc.2009.01.005
DO - 10.1016/j.idc.2009.01.005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 19393912
SN - 0891-5520
VL - 23
SP - 315
EP - 330
JO - Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
JF - Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
IS - 2
ER -
