Nebulized Ipratropium Bromide in Acute Pediatric Asthma: Does It Reduce Hospital Admissions Among Children Presenting to the Emergency Department?

Figure. Homogeneity of pooled analyses of Drug A versus placebo for the treatment of asthma in the ED: analysis of admission rates. In this hypothetical example of a metaanalysis, the results of 7 fictitious studies on efficacy of Drug A for asthma are displayed. Each study is represented by the point estimate for the outcome in question and by CIs on either side of that value. The vertical line corresponds to an OR of 1.0. A , In all 7 trials, the point estimate lies to the left of the vertical line, indicating benefit of Drug A for the outcome measure in question. Furthermore, all of the point estimates are close together and the CIs all overlap. The large horizontal diamond at the bottom of the figure corresponded to the pooled results of the individual studies. In this case, the studies are homogeneous and pooling is appropriate. B , Among the 7 trials, the point estimates lie variously to the left or to the right of the vertical line. The results of the former studies imply benefit of Drug A; those of the latter studies imply that Drug A does harm with respect to the outcome measure in question. Furthermore, all of the point estimates vary widely and some CIs do not overlap. The large horizontal diamond at the bottom of the figure corresponded to the pooled results of the individual studies. In this case, the studies are heterogeneous. Pooling of the results may not be appropriate.