Specify baseline connections — connect

Helper function for the connect_baseline argument of nma() to specify how study baselines (intercepts) are linked, to connect a disconnected network or single-arm studies.

Usage

con(
  type = c("fixed", "random"),
  studies,
  prior_baseline = NULL,
  baseline_trt = NULL
)

Arguments

type: Type of connection, either "fixed" or "random".
studies: Vector of study names.
prior_baseline: Prior distribution for the baseline parameters of studies when type = "random", as a nma_prior object (see priors).
baseline_trt: Which treatment the baseline prior distribution applies to, when type = "random". By default, the random baseline prior will be placed on the network reference treatment. This should be changed if, for example, the prior was obtained from a baseline synthesis of a different treatment.

Value

An object of class nma_connect.

Details

A random baseline connection is specified with type = "random". This places an informative prior distribution on the baselines of studies listed in studies, specified with the prior_baseline argument.

A fixed baseline connection is specified with type = "fixed". This shares the baseline parameter for studies listed in studies.