3. Sensitivity analyses.
| Outcome | Main analysis result (95% CI) | Sensitivity analysis | Sensitivity analysis result (95% CI) |
| Adenoidectomy (with or without myringotomy) versus no treatment/watchful waiting | |||
| 1.3.1 Persistence of OME up to 3 months | RR 0.83 (0.61 to 1.13) | Exclusion of studies with concerns over trustworthiness | RR 0.68 (0.45 to 1.04) |
| 1.3.1 Persistence of OME up to 3 months | RR 0.83 (0.61 to 1.13) | Fixed‐effect model | RR 0.82 (0.65 to 1.03) |
| 1.3.2 Persistence of OME up to 12 months | RR 0.65 (0.36 to 1.15) | Exclusion of studies with concerns over trustworthiness | RR 0.60 (0.23 to 1.56) |
| 1.3.2 Persistence of OME up to 12 months | RR 0.65 (0.36 to 1.15) | Fixed‐effect model | RR 0.65 (0.36 to 1.15) |
| 1.3.3 Persistence of OME over 12 months | RR 0.90 (0.81 to 1.00) | Exclusion of studies with concerns over trustworthiness | RR 0.90 (0.82 to 1.00) |
| 1.3.3 Persistence of OME over 12 months | RR 0.90 (0.81 to 1.00) | Exclusion of studies at high risk of bias | RR 0.76 (0.47 to 1.22) |
| 1.3.3 Persistence of OME over 12 months | RR 0.90 (0.81 to 1.00) | Fixed‐effect model | RR 0.88 (0.78 to 0.99) |
| Adenoidectomy and bilateral ventilation tubes versus bilateral ventilation tubes only | |||
| 2.2.1 Hearing threshold up to 3 months | MD ‐0.79 (‐1.99 to 0.41) | Exclusion of studies with concerns over trustworthiness | MD ‐0.80 (‐2.49 to 0.89) |
| 2.2.1 Hearing threshold up to 3 months | MD ‐0.79 (‐1.99 to 0.41) | Fixed‐effect model | MD ‐0.79 (‐1.99 to 0.41) |
| 2.2.1 Hearing threshold up to 12 months | MD ‐2.18 (‐5.25 to 0.88) | Exclusion of studies with concerns over trustworthiness | MD ‐3.90 (‐6.34 to ‐1.46) |
| 2.2.1 Hearing threshold up to 12 months | MD ‐2.18 (‐5.25 to 0.88) | Fixed‐effect model | MD ‐1.66 (‐2.97 to ‐0.35) |
| 2.3.2 Persistence of OME up to 12 months | RR 0.81 (0.63 to 1.05) | Fixed‐effect model | RR 0.81 (0.65 to 1.00) |
| Adenoidectomy and unilateral ventilation tubes versus unilateral ventilation tubes only | |||
| 3.2.1 Hearing threshold up to 12 months | MD ‐5.36 (‐10.16 to ‐0.56) | Fixed‐effect model | MD ‐5.45 (‐9.03 to ‐1.86) |
| 3.3.2 Presence or persistence of OME up to 12 months | RR 0.57 (0.38 to 0.86) | Fixed‐effect model | RR 0.55 (0.42 to 0.72) |
CI confidence interval; MD mean difference; RR risk ratio