Table 1.

Mapping between study authors’ SOE language, the modified GRADE SOE definition, and the present summary authors’ SOE definition

	SOE Definition Used in the Present Summary
	Association (High, Moderate)		Association (Weak, Low)		Inconclusive	No Association (High, Moderate)
Modified GRADE definition	Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimated effect.		Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and could change the estimate.		Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.	Further research is unlikely to change our confidence in the estimated effect.
	High	Moderate	Weak	Low
Language examples from the articles	High reliability Large correlation Consistent findings Strong role Consistent evidence Positive association	Moderate correlation Moderate evidence	Small correlation May associate May be involved Low evidence Limited ability to predict Weak association Limited evidence Exploratory evidence	Little or no association Very low evidence Poor predictive ability	Inconsistent Odds ratio < 2 Casts doubt Ambiguous association Poor marker Inconclusive evidence No valid evidence Firm conclusions are unsafe Conflicting evidence Lack of robust evidence	No evidence No valid evidence No association No significant association