Metandi: Meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy using hierarchical logistic regression

Abstract

Meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy presents many challenges. Even in the simplest case, when the data are summarized by a 2 x 2 table from each study, a statistically rigorous analysis requires hierarchical (multilevel) models that respect the binomial data structure, such as hierarchical logistic regression. We present a Stata package, metandi. to facilitate the fitting of such models in Stata. The commands display the results in two alternative parameterizations and produce a customizable plot, metandi requires either Stata 10 or above (which has the new command xtmelogit), or Stata 8.2 or above with gllamm installed. © 2009 StataCorp LP.