Meta-analysis prediction intervals are under reported in sport and exercise medicine.
David N BorgFranco M ImpellizzeriSamantha J BorgKate P HutchinsIan B StewartTamara L JonesBrenton J BaguleyLucas Bet da Rosa OrssattoAaron J E BachJohn O OsborneBenjamin S McMasterRobert L BuhmannJoshua J BonAdrian Gerard BarnettPublished in: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports (2024)
Very few meta-analyses report prediction intervals and hence are prone to missing the impact of between-study heterogeneity on the overall conclusions. The widespread misinterpretation of random effect meta-analyses could mean that potentially harmful treatments, or those lacking a sufficient evidence base, are being used in practice. Authors, reviewers, and editors should be aware of the importance of prediction intervals.