01722nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001100000500042700001300047700001600060700001300076700001300089700001300102700001500115700002000130700005800150700006300208700008300271700001300354700001400367245008700381250001500468300001000483490000700493520089800500020004601398       2010                            d1 a1 aReade M.1 aHarrison D.1 aYealy D.1 aJones P.1 aRowan K.1 aDelaney A.1 aBellomo Rinaldo1 aAustralian Resuscitation in Sepsis Evaluation (ARISE)1 aUnited Kingdom Protocolised Management In Sepsis (ProMISe)1 aUnited States Protocolized Care for Early Septic Shock (ProCESS) Investigators1 aAngus D.1 aBailey M.00aProspective meta-analysis using individual patient data in intensive care medicine  a2009/09/18  a11-210 v363 a<p>
Meta-analysis is a technique for combining evidence from multiple trials. However, meta-analyses of studies with substantial heterogeneity among patients within trials-common in intensive care-can lead to incorrect conclusions if performed using aggregate data. Use of individual patient data (IPD) can avoid this concern, increase the power of a meta-analysis, and is useful for exploring subgroup effects. Barriers exist to IPD meta-analysis, most of which are overcome if clinical trials are designed to prospectively facilitate the incorporation of their results with other trials. We review the features of prospective IPD meta-analysis and identify those of relevance to intensive care research. We identify three clinical questions, which are the subject of recent or planned randomised controlled trials where IPD MA offers advantages over approaches using aggregate data.
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