R help - Nov 2009 - multivariate meta-analysis with the metafor package

Dear Wolfgang Viechtbauer and R users,
 
I have few questions regarding the development of the package 'metafor.
As you suggested , I post to the R-help mailing list.
 
I read you're planning an extension of this method to the multivariate case.
I think it would be a useful tool.
I'm currently performing some analyses with R on multiple outcomes, using
the Stata command mvmeta to get meta-analytic multivariate estimates, then
coming back to R to use these results. Obviously, it's irritating to switch
software every time.
 
Briefly:
- Are you still planning this extension? And in this case, do you have a planned
date?
- What are likely to be the advantages and limitations of a potential
'rma.multi' if compared to Stata's 'mvmeta'?

Thank you for your time
Regards,

Antonio Gasparrini
Public and Environmental Health Research Unit (PEHRU)
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Office: 0044 (0)20 79272406 - Mobile: 0044 (0)79 64925523
Skype contact: a.gasparrini
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/people/gasparrini.antonio ( http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/pehru/
)

Dear Antonio,

Yes, I am currently working on these extensions. It will take some time before
those functions are sufficiently tested and documented and can become part of
the metafor package. My goal is to do so within the next year, but I cannot give
any specific date for when this will be finished.

To answer your second question, I will have to take a closer look at the mvmeta
command (I wasn't aware of this command until you mentioned it). I will try
to do so when I get a chance. I guess an immediate advantage of an
"rma.multi" (or whatever it will be called) command is that it will
run under R =)

Best,

--
Wolfgang Viechtbauer                        http://www.wvbauer.com/
Department of Methodology and Statistics    Tel: +31 (0)43 388-2277
School for Public Health and Primary Care   Office Location:
Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616         Room B2.01 (second floor)
6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands         Debyeplein 1 (Randwyck)


----Original Message----
From: r-help-bounces at r-project.org [mailto:r-help-bounces at r-project.org]
On
Behalf Of Antonio.Gasparrini at lshtm.ac.uk Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009
19:47 To: r-help at r-project.org
Subject: [R] multivariate meta-analysis with the metafor package
> Dear Wolfgang Viechtbauer and R users,
>
> I have few questions regarding the development of the package 'metafor.
> As you suggested , I post to the R-help mailing list.
>
> I read you're planning an extension of this method to the multivariate
> case. I think it would be a useful tool. I'm currently performing some
> analyses with R on multiple outcomes, using the Stata command mvmeta to
> get meta-analytic multivariate estimates, then coming back to R to use
> these results. Obviously, it's irritating to switch software every
time.
>
> Briefly:
> - Are you still planning this extension? And in this case, do you have a
> planned date?
> - What are likely to be the advantages and limitations of a potential
> 'rma.multi' if compared to Stata's 'mvmeta'?
>
> Thank you for your time
> Regards,
>
> Antonio Gasparrini
> Public and Environmental Health Research Unit (PEHRU)
> London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
> Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
> Office: 0044 (0)20 79272406 - Mobile: 0044 (0)79 64925523
> Skype contact: a.gasparrini
> http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/people/gasparrini.antonio (
> http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/pehru/ )
>
> ______________________________________________
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> http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.