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Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis in Rhinosinusitis: a Critical Review of the Reviews

  • Rhinosinusitis (J Mullol, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

There has been an explosion in the number of published systematic reviews on chronic rhinosinusitis in the last decade.

Recent Findings

While the aim of these reviews in facilitating evidence-based practice is laudable, poor quality reviews may contain significant bias that can mislead a non-discerning reader.

Summary

Attention therefore must be given to review methodology before implanting findings. Organisations such as the Cochrane Collaboration promote high-quality reviews, but are limited in chronic sinus disease by heterogeneous outcomes and a paucity of randomised trials.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT Department, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals, London, SE1 9RT, England

    Abigail Walker & Claire Hopkins

Authors
  1. Abigail Walker
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  2. Claire Hopkins
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Correspondence to Claire Hopkins.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Hopkins reports personal fees from Medtronic, Sanofi, GSK, Entellus, and Optinose, outside the submitted work. Dr. Walker declares no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Rhinosinusitis

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Walker, A., Hopkins, C. Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis in Rhinosinusitis: a Critical Review of the Reviews. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 18, 8 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-018-0762-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-018-0762-1

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