NICE DSU Technical Support Document 18: Methods for population-adjusted indirect comparisons in submissions to NICE

Abstract

This Technical Support Document examines methods for population-adjusted indirect comparisons, in which individual patient data (IPD) in one or more trials are used to adjust for between-trial differences in the distribution of variables that influence outcome. Recently proposed methods are the Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison (MAIC) and the Simulated Treatment Comparison (STC). We look at the theory behind MAIC and STC methods, review published applications, briefly touch on alternative methods, and make recommendations on the use of population-adjusted estimates in submissions to NICE.