[R-meta] Bivariate generalized linear mixed model with {metafor}

[Viechtbauer, Wolfgang (SP)]

Dear Arthur,

rma() does not fit generalized linear mixed models -- rma.glmm() does. I don't have the time right now to dig into those papers to figure out what specific model they are suggesting. In this context, many different models have been suggested; see, for example:

Jackson, D., Law, M., Stijnen, T., Viechtbauer, W., & White, I. R. (2018). A comparison of seven random-effects models for meta-analyses that estimate the summary odds ratio. Statistics in Medicine, 37(7), 1059-1085. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.7588

(and this is not even an exhaustive list). The paper also indicates how these models can be fitted, either with metafor::rma.glmm() or one can do this directly with lme4""glmer().

Best,
Wolfgang

>-----Original Message-----
>From: R-sig-meta-analysis [mailto:r-sig-meta-analysis-bounces using r-project.org] On
>Behalf Of Arthur Albuquerque
>Sent: Monday, 18 October, 2021 18:15
>To: r-sig-meta-analysis using r-project.org
>Subject: [R-meta] Bivariate generalized linear mixed model with {metafor}
>
>Hi all,
>
>I need some help to figure out how to fit a bivariate generalized linear mixed
>model using metafor.
>
>In the past year, the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology has posted several
>articles on a controversy between using risk ratio or odds ratio in meta-
>analyses. Summary of the controversy here:
>
>George A. Wells , Commentary on Controversy and Debate 4 paper series:
>Questionable utility of the relative risk in clinical research, Journal of
>Clinical Epidemiology (2021), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.09.016
>
>One of the articles (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.08.004) suggested
>fitting a bivariate generalized linear mixed model (BGLMM),  which "obtains
>effect estimates conditioning on baseline risks with the estimated model
>parameters, including the correlation parameter.”
>
>They fitted this model using the PROC NLMIXED command in SAS. I would like to fit
>this model using metafor, could anyone help me by sending the appropriate code of
>this model with metafor::rma()?
>
>Kind regards,
>
>Arthur M. Albuquerque
>
>Medical student
>Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil