Trial sequential boundaries for cumulative meta-analyses

We present a new command, metacumbounds, for the estimation of trial sequential monitoring boundaries in cumulative meta-analyses. The approach is based on the Lan–DeMets method for estimating group sequential boundaries in individual randomized controlled trials by using the package ldbounds in R statistical software. Through Stata’s metan command, metacumbounds plots the Lan–DeMets bounds, z-values, and p-values obtained from both fixed and randomeffects cumulative meta-analyses. The analysis can be performed with count data or on the hazard scale for time-to-event data. Copyright 2013 by StataCorp LP.