Answering complex hierarchy questions in network meta-analysis

Table 2 Hierarchy matrix of the network of four treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of Fig. 3. Checks indicate the hierarchies that fulfil the criteria specified in the columns. Sum shows the probability of the criterion to hold. SFC: salmeterol fluticasone combination; Inf: infinity

Hierarchy	Frequency	Ratios	Criterion A Hierarchy is exactly ‘SFC, Salmeterol, Fluticasone, Placebo’	Criterion B Order “SFC, Fluticasone, Placebo” is retained	Criterion C Fluticasone is among the best two options	Criterion D SFC and Salmeterol are the two best options	Criterion E: Both criteria B AND C are satisfied
SFC, Salmeterol, Fluticasone, Placebo	28%	–	✓	✓		✓
SFC, Fluticasone, Salmeterol, Placebo	19%	1.47		✓	✓		✓
Salmeterol, SFC, Fluticasone, Placebo	12%	2.33		✓		✓
SFC, Salmeterol, Placebo, Fluticasone	9%	3.11				✓
Salmeterol, Fluticasone, SFC, Placebo	7%	4.00			✓
Fluticasone, SFC, Salmeterol, Placebo	6%	4.67			✓
Fluticasone, Salmeterol, SFC, Placebo	5%	5.60			✓
Salmeterol, SFC, Placebo, Fluticasone	4%	7.00				✓
SFC, Fluticasone, Placebo, Salmeterol	3%	9.33		✓	✓		✓
Salmeterol, Fluticasone, Placebo, SFC	2%	14			✓
Fluticasone, Salmeterol, Placebo, SFC	1%	28			✓
SFC, Placebo, Salmeterol, Fluticasone	1%	28
Fluticasone, SFC, Placebo, Salmeterol	1%	28			✓
Salmeterol, Placebo, SFC, Fluticasone	1%	28
Salmeterol, Placebo, Fluticasone, SFC	1%	28
SFC, Placebo, Fluticasone, Salmeterol	0%	Inf
Fluticasone, Placebo, Salmeterol, SFC	0%	Inf			✓
Fluticasone, Placebo, SFC, Salmeterol	0%	Inf			✓
Placebo, Salmeterol, Fluticasone, SFC	0%	Inf
Placebo, SFC, Salmeterol, Fluticasone	0%	Inf
Placebo, Salmeterol, SFC, Fluticasone	0%	Inf
Placebo, Fluticasone, SFC, Salmeterol	0%	Inf			✓
Placebo, SFC, Fluticasone, Salmeterol	0%	Inf
Placebo, Fluticasone, Salmeterol, SFC	0%	Inf			✓
Sum	100%	–	28%	62%	44%	53%	22%

ISSN: 1471-2288