Stata is statistical software that combines programming and un-programming, which is easy to operate, of high efficiency and good expansibility. In performing meta-analysis, Stata software also presents powerful function. The mvmeta package of Stata software is based on a multiple regression model to conduct network meta-analysis, and it also processes "multiple outcomes-multivariate" data. Currently, the disadvantages of mvmeta package include relatively cumbersome process, poor interest-risk sorting, and lack of drawing function in the process of conducting network meta-analysis. In this article, we introduce how to implement network meta-analysis using this package based on cases.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of teicoplanin versus vancomycin for lower respiratory tract infection with gram-positive bacteria in Chinese population. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2016), CNKI, and WanFang Data databases were searched from their inception to March 20, 2016, to collect randomized controlled trials about teicoplanin versus vancomycin for lower respiratory tract infection with gram-positive bacteria in Chinese population. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 12 RCTs involving 921 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis suggested that there were no significant associations between the teicoplanin group and the vancomycin group in total effective rate (RR=0.99, 95%CI 0.93 to 1.05, P=0.69), clinical cure rate (RR=1.05, 95%CI 0.92 to 1.19, P=0.49), and bacteria clearance rate (RR=1.00, 95%CI 0.93 to 1.05, P=0.69). However, the teicoplanin group had lower incidences of the total adverse event (RR=0.65, 95%CI 0.47 to 0.90, P=0.008) and nephrotoxicity (RR=0.33, 95%CI 0.16 to 0.66, P=0.002), and shorter course of treatment (MD=-1.78, 95%CI -3.27 to -0.29, P=0.02) than that in the vancomycin group. ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that teicoplanin is similar to vancomycin in therapeutic effects on treating lower respiratory tract infection with gram-positive bacteria in Chinese population, but teicoplanin is better in safety and has a shorter course of treatment than vancomycin. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm the above conclusions.
The mada package is a type of package that is especially used for implementing meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy tests. This package is developed on basis of classical statistical theories and it can be used to calculate all relevant effect size of diagnostic accuracy tests; however, it does not provide pooled values of sensitivity and specificity. This article uses an example to introduce the whole functions of mada package in implementing meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy tests, including data preparation, calculation implementation, result summary, and plots drawing.
The correlation coefficient is a common used statistic index in the management science, sociology, psychology and nursing. The meta-analysis based on data of correlation coefficients has increased nowadays. The meta package and metafor package are the two major packages in R for performing meta-analysis and can implement many types of meta-analysis, including the meta-analysis of correlation coefficients. This article gives a brief introduction of the process to perform meta-analysis of correlation coefficients using these two packages, and compares their statistical results and functions (such as plot drawing).