Evidence-appraisal glossary
Pooled estimate
A pooled estimate is the single combined result, such as a summary risk ratio or mean difference, produced by statistically averaging the individual studies in a meta-analysis. Each study is weighted, usually by its precision.
Also called: summary estimate, combined estimate, pooled effect.
It is the diamond at the bottom of a forest plot and the headline number of most meta-analyses. The caveat is that a pooled estimate is only as trustworthy as the studies feeding it: averaging very different studies can yield a figure that describes no real population, so heterogeneity and study quality must be weighed alongside the number rather than read from it alone.
This is a plain-language methodology definition for reading research. It is general education, not medical advice.