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Background:  Meta‐regression has grown in popularity in recent years, paralleling the increasing numbers of systematic reviews and meta‐analysis published in the biomedical literature. However, many clinicians and decision‐makers may be unfamiliar with the underlying principles and assumptions made within meta‐regression leading to incorrect interpretation of their results.

Aims:  This paper reviews the appropriate use and interpretation of meta‐regression in the medical literature, including cautions and caveats to its use.

Materials & Methods:  A literature search of MEDLINE (OVID) from 1966‐February 2009 was conducted to identify literature relevant to the topic of heterogeneity and/or meta‐regression in systematic reviews and meta‐analysis.

Results:  Meta‐analysis, a statistical method of pooling data from studies included in a systematic review, is often compromised by heterogeneity of its results …