COVID-19 individual participant data meta-analyses. Can there be too many? Results from a rapid systematic review

Abstract

Background Individual participant data meta-analyses (IPD-MAs), which include harmonising and analysing participant-level data from related studies, provide several advantages over aggregate data meta-analyses, which pool study-level findings. IPD-MAs are especially important for building and evaluating diagnostic and prognostic models, making them an important tool for informing the research and public health responses to COVID-19. Methods We conducted a rapid systematic review of protocols and publications from planned, ongoing, or completed COVID-19-related IPD-MAs to identify areas of overlap and maximise data request and harmonisation efforts. We searched four databases using a combination of text and MeSH terms. Two independent reviewers determined eligibility at the title-abstract and full-text stage. Data were extracted by one reviewer into a pretested data extraction form and subsequently reviewed by a second reviewer. Data were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach. A formal risk of bias assessment was not conducted. Results We identified 31 COVID-19-related IPD-MAs, including five living IPD-MAs and ten IPD-MAs that limited their inference to published data (e.g., case reports). We found overlap in study designs, populations, exposures, and outcomes of interest. For example, 26 IPD-MAs included RCTs; 17 IPD-MAs were limited to hospitalised patients. Sixteen IPD-MAs focused on evaluating medical treatments, including six IPD-MAs for antivirals, four on antibodies, and two that evaluated convalescent plasma. Conclusions Collaboration across related IPD-MAs can leverage limited resources and expertise by expediting the creation of cross-study participant-level data datasets, which can, in turn, fast-track evidence synthesis for the improved diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

How to plan and manage an individual participant data meta‐analysis. An illustrative toolkit

“…The toolkit templates are available for download on OSF and Google Drive. 12,13 The toolkit was developed and refined through our work with the DEPRESSD, 14 Zika Virus Individual Participant Data, 15 and ReCoDID Consortia. 16 The toolkit includes templates for common project management, data checking, and harmonizationrelated tasks, including a budget template, SOPs, and email templates to facilitate communication with data contributing groups.…”

“…This publication presents an illustrative toolkit to support key aspects of IPD‐MAs in any field and for any outcome including planning, budgeting, and conducting data harmonization. The toolkit templates are available for download on OSF and Google Drive 12,13 . The toolkit was developed and refined through our work with the DEPRESSD, 14 Zika Virus Individual Participant Data, 15 and ReCoDID Consortia 16 .…”