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Meta-analysis on studies with heterogeneous and partially observed covariates
Tugba Akkaya Hocagil1,2, Hon Hwang3, Joseph L Jacobson4
1Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Individual participant data meta-analysis effectively combines studies by adjusting for covariates using propensity scores and multiple imputation. Early life growth velocity positively impacts later childhood cognition, with a significant effect size.
Area of Science:
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Individual participant data meta-analysis offers advantages over aggregate data meta-analysis by enabling direct covariate adjustment.
- Challenges include variability in measured confounders and missing covariate data across studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a propensity score and multiple imputation strategy for addressing covariate adjustment challenges in individual participant data meta-analysis.
- To investigate the association between early life physical growth and later childhood cognition using this methodology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a propensity score approach combined with multiple imputation for covariate adjustment.
- Analyzed data from the Healthy Birth, Growth, and Development Knowledge Integration project.
Main Results:
- The study demonstrated a method to resolve challenges in individual participant data meta-analysis.
- A significant positive association was found between average growth velocity in the first year of life and cognitive outcomes in childhood (effect size = 0.36, 95% CI 0.18, 0.55).
Conclusions:
- The combined propensity score and multiple imputation method effectively adjusts for covariates in individual participant data meta-analysis.
- Faster physical growth in infancy is linked to enhanced cognitive development in children.
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