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Kopylev et al 1 conducted a meta-analysis of lung function decrements associated with pleural plaques. Several factors indicate that this analysis was inappropriate.
Although Kopylev et al 1 considered study quality, they did not conduct a formal risk-of-bias analysis. Also, several studies did not provide data needed to calculate mean differences and SEs of lung function parameters. For these missing data, Kopylev et al 1 made assumptions and inputted values that may have biased results. Further, …
Footnotes
Funding W R Grace & Co.
Competing interests The authors are employed by Gradient, a private environmental consulting firm. This letter was written by the authors with financial support provided by W R Grace & Co, which manufactured asbestos-containing fireproofing and acoustical plasters from 1963 to 1973. The authors have sole responsibility for the writing, content, and conclusions in this letter.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.