A few years ago, we developed metaan, a package to perform fixedor random-effects meta-analysis. In terms of random-effects meta-analysis, it offered a wide choice of models, including maximum likelihood, profile likelihood, or restricted maximum-likelihood, in addition to the established DerSimonian–Laird method available in metan or Cochrane’s RevMan software. Other unique features included a wide range of reported heterogeneity measures and a plot of the maximum likelihood function. Since then, metaan has been continuously updated to offer improved graphics, more options, and more meta-analysis models. In this necessary update, we describe these additions and discuss the new models and the evidence behind them.

几年前，我们开发了metaan，用于执行固定或随机效应荟萃分析的程序包。在随机效应荟萃分析方面，除了在metan或Cochrane的RevMan软件中可用的已建立的DerSimonian-Laird方法外，它还提供了多种模型选择，包括最大似然，轮廓似然或受限最大似然法。其他独特功能还包括广泛报道的异质性测度和最大似然函数图。从那时起，metaan不断更新，以提供改进的图形，更多选项和更多meta分析模型。在此必要的更新中，我们描述了这些新增功能，并讨论了新模型及其背后的证据。