Individual Participant Data (IPD) meta-analyses
Collection of the original data from all relevant trials worldwide
Meta-analyses that are based on individual patient or participant data (IPD) use the same basic approach as any other well-conducted systematic review and meta-analysis. However, they involve the collection of the original data from all the relevant trials worldwide. This means trial groups need to be persuaded to supply their trial data, and these data need to be prepared and checked before being included in the meta-analysis.
The IPD approach can improve quality and reliability
Therefore, to succeed, an IPD meta-analysis relies on extensive collaboration between researchers. It also takes more time and resource than a meta-analysis based on results extracted from published trial reports. However, the IPD approach can improve the quality of both the data and the analyses and so the reliability of the results. Therefore, it is considered the gold standard.
IPD meta-analyses are less common than other types of systematic review. They were first used to summarise the effects of treatments for cardiovascular disease and cancer. They are now used in a range of healthcare areas e.g. to examine the effects of treatments for Alzheimers disease, dyspepsia, epilepsy, malaria, HIV infection and hernia.
The CTU Meta-analysis Group is one of only a few groups worldwide that regularly does IPD meta-analyses. Practical guidance on IPD meta-analysis published by the Group is listed below. Further information on IPD meta-analyses can be found on the Cochrane Collaboration IPD Meta-analysis Methods Group website.
Further IPD meta-analysis guidance
Reviews of Individual Patient Data, in Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions: Cochrane Book Series
Authors: Lesley A Stewart, Jayne F Tierney, Mike Clarke
Book Editor(s): Julian PT Higgins, Sally Green
First published: September 2008
To IPD or Not to IPD?
Authors: Lesley A Stewart, Jayne F Tierney
First published: Evaluation & the Health Professions, March 2002
Practical methodology of meta-analyses (overviews) using updated individual patient data.
Authors: Lesley A Stewart, Mike Clarke, on behalf of the Cochrane Working Party Group on Meta-analysis using Individual Patient Data.
First published: Statistics in Medicine, October 1995
Cochrane Collaboration IPD Meta-analysis Methods Group
The Methods Group includes people who are involved or interested in the conduct of systematic reviews based on individual participant data (IPD).
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