Recommendations for examining and interpreting funnel plot asymmetry in meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials

作者：Jonathan A C Sterne, Alex J. Sutton, John P. A. Ioannidis, Norma Terrin, David R. Jones, J. Lau, James R. Carpenter, Gerta Rücker, Roger Harbord, Christopher H. Schmid, Jennifer Tetzlaff, Jonathan J Deeks, Judith Peters, Petra Macaskill, Guido Schwarzer, Sue Duval, Douglas G. Altman, David Moher, Julian P. T. Higgins · 发表于：BMJ · 年份：2011 · DOI：10.1136/bmj.d4002 · 被引用次数：7765 · 研究领域：Meta-analysis and systematic reviews、Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life、Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

Funnel plots, and tests for funnel plot asymmetry, have been widely used to examine bias in the results of meta-analyses. Funnel plot asymmetry should not be equated with publication bias, because it has a number of other possible causes. This article describes how to interpret funnel plot asymmetry, recommends appropriate tests, and explains the implications for choice of meta-analysis model