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Horm Metab Res 2018; 50(01): 8-16
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-119545
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Methodological Quality Assessment of Meta-Analyses of Hyperthyroidism Treatment

Yahong Qin   *
1   Department of Endocrinology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
,
Liang Yao   *
2   Institution of Clinical Research and Evidence Based Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
,
Feifei Shao
1   Department of Endocrinology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
,
Kehu Yang
3   Evidence-Based Medicine Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
,
Limin Tian
1   Department of Endocrinology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 16 June 2017

accepted 07 September 2017

Publication Date:
09 October 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Hyperthyroidism is a common condition that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A number of meta-analyses (MAs) have assessed the therapeutic measures for hyperthyroidism, including antithyroid drugs, surgery, and radioiodine, however, the methodological quality has not been evaluated. This study evaluated the methodological quality and summarized the evidence obtained from MAs of hyperthyroidism treatments for radioiodine, antithyroid drugs, and surgery. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database databases. Two investigators independently assessed the meta-analyses titles and abstracts for inclusion. Methodological quality was assessed using the validated AMSTAR (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews) tool. A total of 26 MAs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Based on the AMSTAR scores, the average methodological quality was 8.31, with large variability ranging from 4 to 11. The methodological quality of English meta-analyses was better than that of Chinese meta-analyses. Cochrane reviews had better methodological quality than non-Cochrane reviews due to better study selection and data extraction, the inclusion of unpublished studies, and better reporting of study characteristics. The authors did not report conflicts of interest in 53.8% meta-analyses, and 19.2% did not report the harmful effects of treatment. Publication bias was not assessed in 38.5% of meta-analyses, and 19.2% did not report the follow-up time. Large-scale assessment of methodological quality of meta-analyses of hyperthyroidism treatment highlighted methodological strengths and weaknesses. Consideration of scientific quality when formulating conclusions should be made explicit. Future meta-analyses should improve on reporting conflict of interest.

Key words

hyperthyroidism - AMSTAR - antithyroid drugs - radioiodine - surgery

* These authors contributed equally to this work


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