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Table 6 Meta-regression coefficient estimate bias (mean [IQR])

From: Statistical approaches to identify subgroups in meta-analysis of individual participant data: a simulation study

 

Meta regression BIAS [IQR]

Binary outcome

Continuous outcome

Survival outcome

Heterogeneity magnitude

Ecological Bias

Large subgroup effect

Medium subgroup effect

No sugroup effect

Large subgroup effect

Medium subgroup effect

No sugroup effect

Large subgroup effect

Medium subgroup effect

No sugroup effect

No heterogeneity

No ecological bias

-0.026 [2.083]

0.029 [1.973]

-0.06 [1.893]

-0.009 [0.958]

-0.052 [0.935]

-0.021 [0.911]

-0.085 [1.549]

-0.081 [1.644]

0.027 [1.366]

No heterogeneity

Favouring treatment ecological bias

1.022 [1.872]

0.5 [1.835]

-0.084 [1.784]

0.516 [0.912]

0.236 [0.892]

-0.509 [0.97]

-0.748 [1.71]

-0.399 [1.657]

-0.312 [1.356]

No heterogeneity

Favouring placebo ecological bias

2.984 [1.873]

1.276 [1.73]

0.076 [1.8]

1.515 [0.921]

0.742 [0.94]

1.006 [0.93]

-2.045 [1.95]

-1.058 [1.689]

0.701 [1.333]

Medium heterogeneity

No ecological bias

0.01 [2.234]

0.051 [2.067]

-0.046 [1.976]

0 [1.411]

-0.008 [1.483]

-0.026 [1.365]

-0.013 [1.945]

0.007 [1.984]

-0.03 [1.749]

Medium heterogeneity

Favouring treatment ecological bias

1.008 [2.157]

0.468 [2.037]

0.019 [2.104]

0.449 [1.339]

0.235 [1.467]

-0.468 [1.437]

-0.689 [2.037]

-0.342 [2.019]

-0.363 [1.738]

Medium heterogeneity

Favouring placebo ecological bias

2.963 [2.133]

1.296 [2.093]

-0.069 [2.014]

1.525 [1.373]

0.724 [1.43]

0.998 [1.479]

-2.011 [2.185]

-1.002 [2.099]

0.633 [1.72]

Large heterogeneity

No ecological bias

-0.067 [2.839]

0.024 [2.92]

0.021 [2.55]

-0.063 [2.44]

-0.046 [2.295]

0.101 [2.37]

0.007 [2.614]

0.023 [2.682]

-0.056 [2.577]

Large heterogeneity

Favouring treatment ecological bias

1.014 [2.737]

0.516 [2.764]

0.019 [2.81]

0.536 [2.179]

0.195 [2.22]

-0.404 [2.252]

-0.669 [2.633]

-0.298 [2.678]

-0.39 [2.521]

Large heterogeneity

Favouring placebo ecological bias

2.883 [2.701]

1.34 [2.723]

0.038 [2.721]

1.426 [2.454]

0.656 [2.562]

1.033 [2.264]

-1.984 [2.784]

-0.984 [2.719]

0.617 [2.491]