[Cochrane reviews compared with industry-supported and other meta-analyses of the same drugs--secondary publication].

24 Cochrane reviews were compared with other, closely matched, meta-analyses of the same drugs. The quality score was highest for Cochrane reviews (7 vs. 2, p < 0.01). Of 8 industry-supported reviews, 7 with conclusions all recommended the experimental drug without reservations, compared with none of the Cochrane reviews (p = 0.02) although the estimated treatment effect was similar on average (p = 0.64). Industry-supported reviews were less transparent, had few reservations about methodological limitations of the included trials, and should be read with caution.