Consistency and inconsistency in network meta‐analysis: concepts and models for multi‐arm studies

Meta-analyses that simultaneously compare multiple treatments (usually referred to as network meta-analyses or mixed treatment comparisons) are becoming increasingly common. An important component of a network meta-analysis is an assessment of the extent to which different sources of evidence are compatible, both substantively and statistically. A simple indirect comparison may be confounded if the studies involving one of the treatments of interest are fundamentally different from the studies involving the other treatment of interest. Here, we discuss methods for addressing inconsistency of evidence from comparative studies of different treatments. We define and review basic concepts of heterogeneity and…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: DMS-0635449, 0635449
• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Awards: MC_EX_G0902100, G0902100, U105261167, U105260558
• DO
  Division of Mathematical Sciences