Publications by authors named "T Evrenoglou"
Network meta-analysis (NMA) usually provides estimates of the relative effects with the highest possible precision. However, sparse networks with few available studies and limited direct evidence can arise, threatening the robustness and reliability of NMA estimates. In these cases, the limited amount of available information can hamper the formal evaluation of the underlying NMA assumptions of transitivity and consistency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Preprints are becoming popular for sharing research, and this study looked at how consistent the effect estimates are between preprints and final journal articles for COVID-19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- The analysis included 109 RCTs, with an average delay of about 4 months from preprint to journal publication, and found that a significant number (80%) showed some concern regarding bias in their results.
- Overall, most preprint and journal article pairs (81 out of 109) showed consistent outcomes, although 9 had discrepancies that slightly affected the reported effect estimates.
Objectives: Preprints became a major source of research communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate whether summary treatment effect estimates differ between preprint and peer-reviewed journal trials.
Study Design And Setting: A meta-epidemiological study.
Interleukin-6 blocking agents for treating COVID-19: a living systematic review.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev
June 2023
Background: It has been reported that people with COVID-19 and pre-existing autoantibodies against type I interferons are likely to develop an inflammatory cytokine storm responsible for severe respiratory symptoms. Since interleukin 6 (IL-6) is one of the cytokines released during this inflammatory process, IL-6 blocking agents have been used for treating people with severe COVID-19.
Objectives: To update the evidence on the effectiveness and safety of IL-6 blocking agents compared to standard care alone or to a placebo for people with COVID-19.
Outputs from living evidence syntheses projects have been used widely during the pandemic by guideline developers to form evidence-based recommendations. However, the needs of different stakeholders cannot be accommodated by solely providing pre-defined non amendable numerical summaries. Stakeholders also need to understand the data and perform their own exploratory analyses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF