Meta-analysis of prevalence
Open accessAbstract
Meta-analysis is a method to obtain a weighted average of results from various studies. In addition to pooling effect sizes, meta-analysis can also be used to estimate disease frequencies, such as incidence and prevalence. In this article we present methods for the meta-analysis of prevalence. We discuss the logit and double arcsine transformations to stabilise the variance. We note the special situation of multiple category prevalence, and propose solutions to the problems that arise. We describe the implementation of these methods in the MetaXL software, and present a simulation study and the example of multiple sclerosis from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 project. We conclude that the double arcsine transformation is preferred over the logit, and that the MetaXL implementation of multiple category prevalence is an improvement in the methodology of the meta-analysis of prevalence.
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There has been debate regarding the appropriateness of meta-analysis within systematic reviews of prevalence.
“There has been debate regarding the appropriateness of meta-analysis within systematic reviews of prevalence, [14, 15] [16–18]”
From How are systematic reviews of prevalence conducted? A methodological study (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
The Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation has been recommended as the preferred method for transformation, although more recently it has come under question.
“This has been recommended as the preferred methods for transformation [15, 18], although more recently it has come under question [19].”
From How are systematic reviews of prevalence conducted? A methodological study (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
Studies with low and high prevalence in a category tend to be given an overestimated weight.
“Studies with low and high prevalence in a category tend to be given an overestimated weight [39].”
From Prevalence of Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults: A Systematic Review (2013) · cites this paper as [39]
The inverse variance method has limitations for very high and very low prevalence.
“This method has some limitations for very high and very low prevalence.”
From Prevalence of Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults: A Systematic Review (2013) · cites this paper as [39]
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- Authors
- Barendregt, J. J., Doi, S. A., Lee, Y. Y., Norman, R. E., & Vos, T.
- Affiliations
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Barendregt, Jan J
- Venue
- Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2013-08-20
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 974-978
- ISSN
- 0141-7681 (ISSN-L)
- 0143-005X
- 1470-2738
- OpenAlex
- W1585424492
- Cited by
- 2,169
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 240 · 2025: 195 · 2024: 246 · 2023: 245 · 2022: 250 · 2021: 288 · 2020: 238 · 2019: 159 · 2018: 110 · 2017: 75 · 2016: 62 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 8.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
- Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Reliability and Agreement in Measurement
- Keywords
- disease prevalence, logit transformation, multiple sclerosis, Global Burden of Disease 2010
- MeSH terms
- Computer Simulation, Humans, Multiple Sclerosis, Severity of Illness Index, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Models, Statistical, Prevalence, Binomial Distribution, Logistic Models
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