Appendix Table 1.
Characteristics of the 39 Systematic Reviews on the Management of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Median year published (range) | 2007 (2000–2009) |
| Type of interventions examined, n(%)* | |
| Medical intervention vs. medical intervention or placebo | 24 (61.5) |
| Laser trabeculoplasty vs. medical intervention | 1 (2.6) |
| Laser trabeculoplasty vs. filtering surgery or medical or no intervention | 1 (2.6) |
| Filtering surgery vs. medical intervention | 1 (2.6) |
| Filtering surgery vs. filtering surgery | 11 (28.2) |
| Cyclodestructive surgery vs. cyclodestructive surgery | 1 (2.6) |
| Outcome examined, n(%)* | |
| Intraocular pressure | 34 (87.2) |
| Visual field | 7 (18.0) |
| Safety | 30 (76.9) |
| Other outcomes | 19 (48.7) |
| Type of studies included, n(%)* | |
| Randomized, controlled trials | 36 (92.3) |
| Non-randomized, controlled trials or observational studies | 5 (12.8) |
| Search | |
| Databases searched, n (%)* | |
| MEDLINE (PubMed) | 39 (100) |
| EMBASE | 31 (79.5) |
| Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials | 27 (69.2) |
| LILACS | 6 (15.4) |
| Other databases | 14 (35.9) |
| Median databases searched (IQR), n | 3 (2–4) |
| Reported searching non-English-language studies, n (%) | 26 (66.7) |
| Searched all possible years for ≥1 database, n(%) | 34 (87.2) |
| Other sources searched, n (%)* | |
| Searched reference lists or reports that cited the study | 29 (74.4) |
| Contacted experts in the field or study authors | 11 (28.2) |
| Searched hard-to-access or unpublished studies | 14 (35.9) |
| Searched ongoing studies | 10(25.6) |
| Searches completed within 2 y of review publication, n (%) | 35 (89.7) |
| Searches updated after review publication, n(%) | 5 (12.8) |
| Results of systematic reviews* | |
| Median studies included (IQR), n | 11 (8–19) |
| Median participants included (IQR), n | 1310 (758–2187) |
| Synthesized evidence qualitatively, n (%) | 26 (66.7) |
| Performed ≥1 meta-analysis, n (%) | 32 (82.1) |
| Assessed statistical heterogeneity, n (%) | 22 (68.9t) |
| Funding sources, n(%)* | |
| No funding | 14 (35.9) |
| Industry | 6 (15.4) |
| Government | 8 (20.5) |
| Other sources of funding | 2 (5.1) |
| Not reported | 11 (28.2) |
IQR = interquartile range.
*
Totals may be >39 because systematic reviews could be counted in ≥1 category.
†
The denominator was the 32 systematic reviews with ≥1 meta-analysis.