Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T04:50:22.401Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Retrieval of missing data for meta-analysis: A practical example

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2004

George A. Kelley ,
Kristi S. Kelley  and
Zung Vu Tran
George A. Kelley
Affiliation:
West Virginia University
Kristi S. Kelley
Affiliation:
West Virginia University
Zung Vu Tran
Affiliation:
National Jewish Medical & Research Center
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of retrieving missing outcome data for summary meta-analyses using an example dealing with the effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in adults.

Methods: Missing lipid and/or lipoprotein data from a currently developed meta-analytic data base were requested by means of electronic mail from 39 of 174 (22.4 percent) eligible studies. Binary logistic regression was used to examine whether year of publication and country were significant predictors for whether data would be provided.

Results: Of the thirty-nine studies from which data were requested, usable data were received for thirteen (33.3 percent) of the studies. The addition of these previously missing data decreased the percentage of eligible studies that would have had to be excluded by 33.5 percent (from 22.4 percent to 14.9 percent). Neither year of publication nor country in which the study was conducted (United States versus other) were significant predictors of whether missing data would be provided or not (p>.05).

Conclusions: Moderate success was achieved in the acquisition of missing outcome data dealing with the effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in adults. However, whether this level of response is true in other areas of research needs to be determined by additional research.

Keywords

Meta-analysisSystematic reviewMissing data
Type
GENERAL ESSAYS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , August 2004 , pp. 296 - 299
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Kelley GA, Kelley KS. 2003 Exercise and resting blood pressure in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 15: 83– 97.Google Scholar
Kelley GA, Kelley KS, Tran ZV. 2002 Retrieval of individual patient data for an exercise meta-analysis. Am J Med Sports. 4: 350– 354.Google Scholar
Mann GV, Teel K, Hayes O, McNally A, Bruno D. 1955 Exercise in the disposition of dietary calories: regulation of serum lipoprotein and cholesterol levels in human subjects. N Engl J Med. 253: 349– 355.Google Scholar
Petitti DB. 2000 Meta-analysis, decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis: methods for quantitative synthesis in medicine. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press
Pigott TD. 1994 Handling missing data in research synthesis. In: Cooper H, Hedges LV, editors. The handbook of research synthesis. New York: Russell Sage Foundation; 163– 175.
Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Jones DR, Sheldon TA, Song F. 2000 Methods of meta-analysis in medical research. West Sussex, England: Wiley