Methods for Trend Estimation from Summarized Dose- Response Data, with Applications to Meta-Analysis

Meta-analysis often requires pooling of correlated estimates to compute regression slopes (trends) across different exposure or treatment levels. The authors propose two methods that account for the correlations but require only the summary estimates and marginal data from the studies. These methods provide more efficient estimates of regression slope, more accurate variance estimates, and more valid heterogeneity tests than those previously available. One method also allows estimation of nonlinear trend components, such as quadratic effects. The authors illustrate these methods in a meta-analysis of alcohol use and breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1992;135:1301-9. epidemiotagic methods; logistic models; meta-analysis; risk assessment Meta-analytic methods for clinical trial data often assume that sufficient data are available from each study to allow use of ordinary analytic methods. Nevertheless, meta-analyses of observational studies often have to rely on the limited data availabl