Comparison 1. NSAIDs versus placebo, global effect.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Sum of overall symptom score (random‐effects model)	3	293	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.40 [‐1.03, 0.24]
2 Moderate to marked severity	1	40	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.61 [0.18, 2.11]
3 Duration of colds (random‐effects model)	2	214	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.23 [‐1.75, 1.29]
4 Duration of restriction of daily activities	1	174	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.56 [‐1.24, 0.12]