Dear all,
I am kindly asking you for help. My systematic search has resulted in three trials and two of them measured the outcomes in 24 weeks and one in 12 weeks. Is it appropriate to combine these three under the one meta-analysis despite the difference in duration of trial?
Hi Zhen, you can combine data from studies undertaken over different duration. Thus can be briefly be explained in your limitation
Hi, if your outcomes are not related to duration, you can definitely combine them. If yes, for example, survival analysis, it can be done with limitation as Kabelo Mokgalaboni mentioned.
Hi Zhen, you can. It would be interesting to insert a column with the weeks to observe the variation. This can generate a good discussion, about the variation of weeks in relation to measurement.
Check..
Article It takes longer than you think: Librarian time spent on syst...
Another approach to what has been already suggested is to perform a subgroup analysis in your forest plot with the subset of studies at 24 weeks pooled together with a separate effect size estimate and the one with 2 weeks duration in a separate subgroup. Whether or not to include an overall estimation is your call.
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