Table 1.
Summary estimates from Bayesian meta-analyses with the assessment of the certainty of the evidence. CI, confidence interval; CrI, credible interval; MD, mean difference; NA, not available; OR, odds ratio; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SMD, standardised mean difference. ∗Calculated with the empirical cumulative distribution function. †Conversion of pooled quality of recovery results in the QoR-15 unit by multiplying the pooled SMD by the QoR-15 mean standard deviation across intervention groups of included RCTs. Score ranged between 0 (very poor recovery) and 150 (excellent recovery). ‡Because of inconsistency. Not downgraded for risk of bias given results from meta-regression (RCTs at lower risk of bias reported larger effect sizes from dexmedetomidine). ¶Because of risk of bias and imprecision. §Score ranged between 0 and 100, with lower score indicating increased disability. ||Because of risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision. #Because of risk of bias and inconsistency.
| Outcome | Relative effect (95% CrI or CI) | Posterior probability of any benefit (%)∗ | Number of RCTs | Number of participants |
Heterogeneity using Tau (95% CrI) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexmedetomidine | Comparator | ||||||
| Primary | |||||||
| Quality of recovery† | MD 9 (95% CrI 4 to 14) | 99 | 21 | 908 | 885 | 1.12 (0.81–1.56) | Moderate‡ |
| Secondary | |||||||
| Health-related quality of life (Short-Form score) | SMD 0.05 (95% CrI –0.61 to 0.72) | 46 | 2 | 209 | 219 | 0.40 (0.01–1.36) | Low¶ |
| Life impact (Barthel Index)§ | MD –5 (95% CI: –5 to 0) | NA | 1 | 55 | 55 | NA | Very low|| |
| Sleep quality (Numerical Rating Scale) | MD –0.6 (95% CrI –1.3 to 0.1) | 94 | 7 | 858 | 854 | 0.89 (0.47–1.60) | Very low|| |
| Chronic pain incidences | OR 0.42 (95% CrI 0.18 to 0.79) | 99 | 7 | 692 | 683 | 0.77 (0.23–1.60) | Low# |
| Mortality | OR 0.70 (95% CrI 0.37 to 1.21) | 93 | 10 | 1254 | 1261 | 0.36 (0.01–1.12) | Low¶ |
| Delirium | OR 0.62 (95% CrI 0.39 to 0.92) | 99 | 12 | 1457 | 1459 | 0.52 (0.23–0.95) | Very low|| |
| Bradycardia requiring an intervention | OR 1.74 (95% CrI 0.93 to 3.34) | 5 | 10 | 1106 | 888 | 0.62 (0.08–1.49) | Very low|| |
| Hypotension requiring an intervention | OR 1.98 (95% CrI 0.84 to 3.92) | 6 | 8 | 1026 | 808 | 0.91 (0.40–1.72) | Very low|| |
| Tachycardia requiring an intervention | OR 0.80 (95% CrI 0.25 to 2.37) | 80 | 2 | 195 | 196 | 0.65 (0.03–1.91) | Very low|| |
| Hypertension requiring an intervention | OR 0.81 (95% CrI 0.25 to 2.15) | 80 | 2 | 180 | 180 | 0.62 (0.02–1.90) | Very low|| |