What is heterogeneity and is it important?

  • Fletcher, John clinical epidemiologist

This is the first in a series of occasional articles explaining statistical and epitiemioiogical tests used in research papers in the BMJ

Contributors: JF is the sole contributor.

Competing interests: None declared.

doi: 10.1136/bmj.39057.406644.68

BMJ 334(7584):p 94-96, January 13, 2007.

Three simple examples from recent BMJ papers illustrate the importance of heterogeneity in a systematic review and how readers can assess it

Copyright © 2007 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
View full text|Download PDF