IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pmed00/1002742.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

COSMOS-E: Guidance on conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies of etiology

Author

Listed:
  • Olaf M Dekkers
  • Jan P Vandenbroucke
  • Myriam Cevallos
  • Andrew G Renehan
  • Douglas G Altman
  • Matthias Egger

Abstract

Background: To our knowledge, no publication providing overarching guidance on the conduct of systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology exists. Methods and findings: Conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies of Etiology (COSMOS-E) provides guidance on all steps in systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, from shaping the research question, defining exposure and outcomes, to assessing the risk of bias and statistical analysis. The writing group included researchers experienced in meta-analyses and observational studies of etiology. Standard peer-review was performed. While the structure of systematic reviews of observational studies on etiology may be similar to that for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials, there are specific tasks within each component that differ. Examples include assessment for confounding, selection bias, and information bias. In systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, combining studies in meta-analysis may lead to more precise estimates, but such greater precision does not automatically remedy potential bias. Thorough exploration of sources of heterogeneity is key when assessing the validity of estimates and causality. Conclusion: As many reviews of observational studies on etiology are being performed, this document may provide researchers with guidance on how to conduct and analyse such reviews. In a Guidelines and Guidance article, Olaf Dekkers and colleagues discuss COSMOS-E, in which they aim to provide guidance for those performing systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies addressing etiology.

Suggested Citation

  • Olaf M Dekkers & Jan P Vandenbroucke & Myriam Cevallos & Andrew G Renehan & Douglas G Altman & Matthias Egger, 2019. "COSMOS-E: Guidance on conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies of etiology," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(2), pages 1-24, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pmed00:1002742
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002742
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002742
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002742&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002742?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nikolaos Petroulakis & Mats-Olof Mattsson & Panos Chatziadam & Myrtill Simko & Andreas Gavrielides & Andrianos M. Yiorkas & Olga Zeni & Maria Rosaria Scarfi & Eduardo Soudah & Ruben Otin & Fulvio Sche, 2023. "NextGEM: Next-Generation Integrated Sensing and Analytical System for Monitoring and Assessing Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Nicholas John Dean & Christopher Pastras & Daniel Brown & Aaron Camp, 2019. "Are viral-infections associated with Ménière’s Disease? A systematic review and meta-analysis of molecular-markers of viral-infection in case-controlled observational studies of MD," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-23, November.
    3. Pamela Di Giovanni & Giuseppe Di Martino & Piera Scampoli & Fabrizio Cedrone & Francesca Meo & Giuseppe Lucisano & Ferdinando Romano & Tommaso Staniscia, 2020. "Arsenic Exposure and Risk of Urothelial Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-11, April.
    4. Miranda e Paulo, Djessyca & Navarro de Oliveira, Murilo & de Andrade Vieira, Walbert & Flores-Mir, Carlos & Pithon, Matheus Melo & Bittencourt, Marcos Alan Vieira & Paranhos, Luiz Renato, 2022. "Impact of malocclusion on bullying in school children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    5. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, 2021. "Why We Will Continue to Lose Our Battle with Cancers If We Do Not Stop Their Triggers from Environmental Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Yara Shoman & Valentin Rousson & Renzo Bianchi & Irina Guseva Canu, 2022. "Holistic Assessment of Factors Associated with Exhaustion, the Main Symptom of Burnout: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Rafael del-Pino-Casado & Emilia Priego-Cubero & Catalina López-Martínez & Vasiliki Orgeta, 2021. "Subjective caregiver burden and anxiety in informal caregivers: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, March.
    8. Matthew J Page & Joanne E McKenzie & Patrick M Bossuyt & Isabelle Boutron & Tammy C Hoffmann & Cynthia D Mulrow & Larissa Shamseer & Jennifer M Tetzlaff & Elie A Akl & Sue E Brennan & Roger Chou & Jul, 2021. "The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, March.
    9. Davide, Di Fonzo & Alessandra, Fabri & Roberto, Pasetto, 2022. "Distributive justice in environmental health hazards from industrial contamination: A systematic review of national and near-national assessments of social inequalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    10. Aina Gabarrell-Pascuet & Helena García-Mieres & Iago Giné-Vázquez & Maria Victoria Moneta & Ai Koyanagi & Josep Maria Haro & Joan Domènech-Abella, 2023. "The Association of Social Support and Loneliness with Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-25, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pmed00:1002742. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosmedicine (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.