Table 2. Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis.
| Author, year [reference] | Active study medication | Type of drug* | Definition of response | N of responders in active arms (N of patients in active arms) | N of placebo responders in placebo arm (N of patients in placebo) | Placebo Response Rate (+/-SD)$ | Jadad score | NERD or EE£ | Duration of active treatment (days) | Number of visits during active treatment | Frequency of treatment# | Length of run in period (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fass, 2009 34 | Dexlansoprazole MR | PPI | Complete resolution of heartburn at the end of the study | 318 (630) | 44 (317) | 14 (6.8-21.1) | 5 | NERD | 28 | 2 | QD | 0 |
| Uemura, 200835 | Omeprazole | PPI | Complete resolution of heartburn during the 4th week | 55 (189) | 11 (92) | 12 (5.3-18.6) | 3 | NERD | 28 | 1 | QD | 0 |
| Johnson, 200536 | Esomeprazole | PPI | Complete resolution of 24h-heartburn at the end of the study | 160 (429) | 11 (221) | 5.0 (2.1-7.8) | 5 | Both | 28 | 2 | QD | 0 |
| Kahrilas, 200537 | Rabeprazole | PPI | Complete relief of heartburn during the 4th week | 34 (126) | 4 (126) | 3.2 (0.1-6.2) | 5 | NERD | 28 | 4 | QD | 14 |
| Katz, 200338 | Esomeprazole | PPI | Complete resolution of heartburn at the end of the study | 172 (475) | 31 (242) | 12.8 (8.6-17.0) | 5 | NERD | 28 | 2 | QD | 0 |
| Johnson, 200339 | Esomeprazole | PPI | Complete relief of heartburn symptoms at the 2nd visit | 235 (347) | 15 (92) | 16.3 (10.1-25.3) | 3 | Both | 14 | 2 | QD | 3 |
| Laheij, 200340 | Rabeprazole | PPI | Complete relief of upper GI symptoms at the end of the study | 34 (73) | 30 (70) | 42.9 (31.8-54.6) | 5 | Both | 28 | 1 | QD | 0 |
| Miner, 200241 | Rabeprazole | PPI | Complete relief of heartburn during the 4th week | 38 (131) | 2 (68) | 2.9 (0.7-11.0) | 3 | NERD | 28 | 3 | QD | 14 |
| Richter, 200042 | Pantoprazole | PPI | Persistently free of all GERD-associated symptoms at the end of the study | 289 (521) | 13 (82) | 16 (9.7-26.2) | 3 | EE | 56 | 4 | QD | 0 |
| Richter, 200043 | Omeprazole | PPI | Complete resolution of heartburn at the last day of the study | 145 (236) | 28 (123) | 22.8 (16.2-31.0) | 3 | NERD | 28 | 2 | QD | 0 |
| Carlson, 199844 | Omeprazole | PPI | Complete relief from upper GI symptoms during 4th week | 172 (450) | 17 (88) | 19.3 (11.1-27.6) | 3 | NERD | 28 | 2 | QD | 0 |
| Cloud, 199845 | Rabeprazole | PPI | Complete resolution of upper GI symptoms at the end of the study | 44 (77) | 1 (25) | 4.0 (0.6-23.5) | 2 | EE | 56 | 3 | QD | 0 |
| Galmiche, 199846 | Ranitidine (arm 1); Cimetidine (arm 2) | H2RA | 75% relief of heartburn at the end of the study | 403 (1019) | 77 (270) | 28.5 (22.6-34.5) | 3 | NERD | 15 | 2 | On Demand | 0 |
| Hallerback, 199847 | Ranitidine | H2RA | Complete resolution of upper GI symptoms at the end of the study | 86 (210) | 68 (213) | 31.9 (26.0- 38.5) | 3 | Both | 14 | 2 | BID | 14 |
| Lind, 199748 | Omeprazole | PPI | Complete absence of heartburn at the end of the study | 156 (404) | 14 (105) | 13.3 (6.8-19.8) | 5 | NERD | 28 | 2 | QD | 0 |
| Bate, 199649 | Omeprazole | PPI | Complete relief from upper GI symptoms during the 4th week | 56 (98) | 21 (111) | 18.9 (11.6-26.2) | 3 | NERD | 28 | 1 | QD | 0 |
| Rush, 199550 | Ranitidine | H2RA | Complete relief of heartburn at the end of the study | 193 (301) | 136 (289) | 47.1 (41.4-52.8) | 5 | NERD | 42 | 3 | BID | 0 |
| Simon, 199451 | Famotidine | H2RA | Sustained relief of heartburn at the end of the study | 81 (230) | 6 (58) | 10.3 (4.7-21.2) | 4 | EE | 84 | 2 | BID | 0 |
| Sabesin, 199152 | Famotidine | H2RA | Global relief of GERD symptoms (moderate or excellent improvement) at the end of the study | 191 (272) | 31 (66) | 46.9 (40.3-53.4) | 4 | Both | 84 | 3 | QHS BID |
0 |
| Riemann, 199153 | Cimetidine | H2RA | Complete relief of heartburn symptoms at the end of the study | 27 (60) | 12 (65) | 18.5 (9.0-27.9) | 4 | NERD | 14 | 2 | QID | 5 |
| Robinsen, 199154 | Famotidine | H2RA | Complete disappearance (free) of symptoms at the end of the study | 110 (313) | 19 (76) | 25.0 (15.3-34.7) | 2 | NERD | 42 | 2 | QHS BID |
7 |
| Quik, 199055 | Nizatidine | H2RA | Complete disappearance (free) of symptoms at the end of the study | 47 (218) | 16 (107) | 15.0 (8.2-21.7) | 4 | EE | 84 | 4 | QHS BID |
0 |
| Sontag, 198756 | Ranitidine | H2RA | Complete remission of 24h-heartburn at the end of the study | 38 (119) | 14 (118) | 11.9 (7.2-19.0) | 3 | Both | 42 | 6 | BID | 7 |
| Wesdorp, 198357 | Ranitidine | H2RA | Complete relief of heartburn at the end of the study | 6 (19) | 2 (17) | 11.8 (3.0-36.8) | 3 | EE | 42 | 2 | BID | 0 |
*
PPI: proton pump inhibitor; H2RA=H2 receptor antagonist.
#
QD: once daily; BID: twice daily; QID: four times daily; QHS: once at bedtime.
£
NERD: Non-erosive reflux disease, EE: Erosive esophagitis; GI: gastro-intestinal; GERD: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
$
SD: Standard deviation