Susan D. Shenkin|Jennifer Harrison|Tim Wilkinson|Richard Dodds|John P. A. Ioannidis
Systematic reviews: guidance relevant for studies of older people
University of Edinburgh|University of Edinburgh|Alzheimer Scotland|University of Edinburgh|University of Southampton|Newcastle University|Stanford University
systematic reviews metaanalyses increasingly common article aims provide guidance people conducting systematic reviews relevant healthcare older people awareness issues also help people reading systematic reviews determine whether results influence clinical practice essential systematic reviews performed team includes required technical clinical expertise performing reviews first time ensure appropriate training support must planned performed transparent methodologically robust way guidelines available protocol writtenand possible publishedbefore starting review geriatricians interested table baseline characteristics help determine studied samples populations similar patients reviews studies older people consider manage issues different age cutoffs nonspecific presentations multiple predictors outcomes potential biases confounders systematic reviews metaanalyses may provide evidence improve older peoples care determine new evidence required newer methodologies metaanalyses individual level data network metaanalyses umbrella reviews realist synthesis may improve reliability clinical utility systematic reviews