Individual participant data meta-analysis of clinical trials and real-world data

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are cornerstone methodologies in evidence-based decision-making, empowering researchers and policymakers to synthesize insights across multiple studies. As highlighted in Chapter 12 , traditional methods often involve pooling of summary effect estimates and calculating weighted averages. While effective, this aggregate data meta-analysis is inherently constrained by its dependence on the availability, granularity, and quality of published data — frequently affected by selective reporting practices and inconsistencies across studies.