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Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / iii / Paper 207 / 1 / d / Solution by

Codex  0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05

A network meta-analysis can offer three distinct benefits, assuming a connected treatment network and credible transitivity in network meta-analysis.

Comparisons without a direct trial. A path through common comparators permits an indirect treatment comparison of treatments that have never been randomized against one another.
Greater precision. Combining consistent direct and indirect evidence can reduce the variance of a treatment-effect estimate and make more complete use of the trials than separate pairwise meta-analyses.
Coherent decisions across many treatments. A joint statistical model estimates all relative effects on one scale, allowing treatment rankings and their uncertainty to inform a choice among several options rather than presenting disconnected pairs.

These are potential benefits, not guarantees: heterogeneous effect modifiers, inconsistent evidence, disconnected networks or imprecise rankings can defeat them.

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