BMJ  2006;332 (28 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7535.0-d

Let's look at duplicate systematic reviews

Quality of systematic reviews may be associated with their length and the reviewer's previous sources of funding. Biondi-Zoccai and colleagues examined 10 recent overlapping systematic reviews on the same topic (the role of acetylcysteine for the prevention of contrast nephropathy) and found that their recommendations were in conflict (p 202). Longer manuscripts were associated with higher compliance with the QUOROM checklist, and reviewers who had had not for profit funding scored higher on an index of methodological quality. Overlapping meta-analytic efforts waste resources, say the authors, and constraints on space, reflected in length of manuscript and abstract, are important hurdles for quality.

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Relevant Article

Compliance with QUOROM and quality of reporting of overlapping meta-analyses on the role of acetylcysteine in the prevention of contrast associated nephropathy: case study

Giuseppe G L Biondi-Zoccai, Marzia Lotrionte, Antonio Abbate, Luca Testa, Enrico Remigi, Francesco Burzotta, Marco Valgimigli, Enrico Romagnoli, Filippo Crea, and Pierfrancesco Agostoni
BMJ 2006 332: 202-209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]