How to Perform a Meta-Analysis: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide Using R Software and Rstudio

Abstract

Meta-analysis is an adequate statistical technique to combine results from different studies, and its use has been growing in the medical field. Thus, not only knowing how to interpret meta-analysis, but also knowing how to perform one, is fundamental today. Therefore, the objective of this article is to present the basic concepts and serve as a guide for conducting a meta-analysis using R and RStudio software. For this, the reader has access to the basic commands in the R and RStudio software, necessary for conducting a meta-analysis. The advantage of R is that it is a free software. For a better understanding of the commands, two examples were presented in a practical way, in addition to revising some basic concepts of this statistical technique. It is assumed that the data necessary for the meta-analysis has already been collected, that is, the description of methodologies for systematic review is not a discussed subject. Finally, it is worth remembering that there are many other techniques used in meta-analyses that were not addressed in this work. However, with the two examples used, the article already enables the reader to proceed with good and robust meta-analyses. Level of Evidence V, Expert Opinion.

Outcomes of Laparoscopic Suture Rectopexy Versus Laparoscopic Mesh Rectopexy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Alternatively, mean differences (MDs) with standard deviations (SDs) were calculated for CCCS, CCIS, hospital stay duration, and operative time in both study groups [ 23 ]. The heterogeneity among the included studies was determined by tau-squared, chi-squared, and I-squared statistics [ 24 , 25 ]. The minimal, moderate, and high heterogeneity levels were indicated by 0-30%, 31-60%, and 61-100% I-squared values, respectively.…”