Table 2.
Adverse events reported in the included RCTs
| Adverse Events | Studies Reporting (n) | Steroid Group (n/n) | Control Group (n/n) | RR (95% CI) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total patients with adverse events | 8 | 60/245 | 34/243 | 1.55 (1.09–2.21) | 0.02 |
| Specific adverse events | |||||
| diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose intolerance | 3 | 4/108 | 1/110 | 2.55 (0.51–12.72) | 0.26 |
| hypertension | 3 | 12/93 | 15/90 | 0.78 (0.39–1.54) | 0.48 |
| insomnia, palpitations, increased perspiration, headache | 4 | 7/104 | 1/103 | 2.72 (0.60–12.44) | 0.20 |
| gastrointestinal bleeding | 1 | 1/17 | 0/17 | 3.00 (0.13–68.84) | 0.49 |
| cushingoid features | 3 | 9/82 | 0/84 | 7.18 (1.34–38.42) | 0.02 |
| weight increase | 1 | 22/33 | 13/31 | 1.56 (0.98–2.57) | 0.06 |
| cough | 2 | 2/81 | 3/79 | 0.75 (0.09–6.28) | 0.79 |