5. Summary of the results of the primary and sensitivity analyses for the four primary outcomes in the three sets of comparator studies.

Rifaximin versus placebo/no intervention
Variable	Random‐effects meta‐analysis	Fixed‐effects meta‐analysis	Sensitivity (low bias trials)	Sensitivity (no vested interest trials)	Worse/best & extreme worse/extreme best ‐ case scenarios
Mortality	No effect	No effect	No effect	No effect	No effect
Serious adverse events	No effect	No effect	No effect	No effect	No effect
HRQoL	Beneficial effect overall and in minimal HE	Beneficial effect overall and in minimal HE	Beneficial effect overall and in minimal HE	n/a	n/a
Hepatic encephalopathy	Beneficial effect overall and in minimal HE	Beneficial effect overall and in minimal HE and the prevention trials	Beneficial effect overall and in minimal HE and the prevention trials	n/a	All four analyses: beneficial effect overall and in minimal HE Extreme worse case: possible detrimental effect in chronic HE
Rifaximin versus non‐absorbable disaccharides
Mortality	No effect	No effect	No effect	No effect	No effect
Serious adverse events	No effect	No effect	No effect	n/a	No effect
HRQoL	No effect	No effect	n/a	n/a	n/a
Hepatic encephalopathy	No effect	No effect	No effect	n/a	No effect
Rifaximin plus a non‐absorbable disaccharide versus a non‐absorbable disaccharide alone
Mortality	Beneficial effect overall	Beneficial effect overall	Beneficial effect overall	Beneficial effect overall	All four analyses ‐beneficial effect overall
Serious adverse events	No effect	Beneficial effect overall, in acute HE, and in the prevention trials.	n/a	n/a	Worst‐case, best‐case, extreme best‐case: beneficial effect overall, but not in any subgroup Extreme worse‐case: No effect
HRQoL	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Hepatic encephalopathy	Beneficial effect overall	Beneficial effect overall	Beneficial effect overall	n/a	All four analyses ‐ beneficial effect overall

Abbreviations: HE, hepatic encephalopathy; HRQoL, health‐related quality of life; n/a: not available/applicable