Table 1.
Acceptance of methodology of indirect comparisons by IQWiG, HAS, NICE and SMC within benefit assessments
| Methodology of indirect comparison | Explanation | Acceptance by | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IQWiG | HAS | NICE | SMC | ||
| Unadjusted | •Naïve use of single study arms of different trials (violation of randomization) | − | − | − | / |
| •Application of matching procedures and multivariate analysis | |||||
| Adjusted | •Meta-analytical summary of RCT outcomes | + | + | + | / |
| •Subtraction of realized therapeutic effects (control group vs. verum group(s)) | |||||
| •Comparison of adjusted verum groups | |||||
| MTC | •Combination of evidence from direct and indirect comparisons | − | + | + | / |
| •Basic assumptions of adjusted indirect comparison are applied | |||||
| •Efficacy ranking of examined therapies | |||||
| •Bayesian and frequentist approach | |||||