Table 5.
Definitions of outcome measures used in the review
| Trial ID | Coma resolution time | Fever clearance time | Parasite clearance time | Hypoglycaemia |
| Adam 2002 SDN | Mean value (h) reported and defined as a Blantyre coma score of 5 recorded for at least 24 hours | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time after which the temperature remained normal (axillary temperature < 37.5°C) | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time passed from admission and start of treatment until two consecutive negative smears. Blood films repeated every 8 hours. | Number of episodes (n/N) reported but not defined |
| Aguwa 2010 NGA | Proportions with coma resolution on D3 reported but not defined | Proportions with fever clearance on D3 and D14 reported and defined as body temperature ≤ 37.5°C after commencement of treatment | Proportions with parasite clearance on D3 and D14. Parasite clearance was taken as adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) at days 3 and 14. Parasite count taken on D0, D3 and D14. | Not reported |
| Hien 1996 VNM | Median value (h) reported and defined as the time to reach a score of 15 on the Glasgow Coma Scale | Median value (h) reported but not defined. | Median value (h) reported and defined as the time to Assessed every 4 hours for the first 24 hours and every 6 hours until three consecutive negative blood smears | Number of episodes (n/N) reported but not defined |
| Huda 2003 IND | Glasgow coma scale was used in grading the level of consciousness of the patients every eight hours |
Mean value (h) reported and defined as time to clearance of fever | Mean value (h) reported but not defined | Not reported |
| Karbwang 1992 THA | Unclear if values reported are means or medians (h) | Mean value (h) reported and defined as time for the temperature to fall below 37.5°C and remain that value for 72 hours | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time for the parasite count to fall below the level of microscopic detection (thick film) | Not reported |
| Karbwang 1995 THA | Median value (h) reported and defined as the time taken for the patients to recover completely from unconciousness | Mean value (h) reported and defined as time for the temperature to fall below 37.5°C and remain that value for 72 hours | Median value (h) reported and defined as the time taken for parasite count to fall below the level of microscopic detection (thick film) | Not reported |
| Minta 2005 MLI | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time to normalization of consciousness | Mean value (h) reported but not defined | Mean value (h) reported and defined as time till negative parasitaemia result | Not reported |
| Murphy 1996 KEN | Median value (h) reported but not described | Median value (h) reported but not described | Median value (h) reported but not described. Every four hours until clearance | Not reported |
| Ojuawo 1998 NGA | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the interval between onset of therapy and the attainment of full consciousness | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the interval between the onset of therapy and the time the body temperature is ≤ 37°C and remained so | Defined as two successive thick blood films done at 12 hours interval are negative for asexual forms of plasmodium species | Not reported |
| Olumese 1999 NGA | Mean value (h) reported and defined as time to regain full consciousness | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time for temperature to fall below 37.5°C and remain so for at least 48 hours | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time from start of drug administration to the first of two consecutive negative thick smears remaining negative until day 7 |
Not reported |
| Osonuga 2009 NGA | Mean value (h) reported and defined as time to attainment of a Blantyre score of 5 for at least 24 hours from initiation of treatment | Mean value (h) reported but not defined | Mean value (h) reported but not defined. Thick and thin film done on D0 and repeated on Days 3, 7 and 14 | Not reported |
| Phu 2010 VNM | Median value (h) reported and defined as time to Glasgow coma score of 15. | Median value (h) reported and defined as the time for temperature to fall below 37.5°C and remain so | Median value (h) reported and defined as the time to clear all parasites | Number of episodes (n/N) reported but not defined |
| Satti 2002 SDN | Mean value (h) reported and defined as time to regaining consciousness | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time for temperature to fall below 37.5°C | Mean value (h) reported and defined as time to clear parasites measured every six hours till clearance | Not reported |
| Seaton 1998 PNG | Median value (h) reported but not defined | Median value (h) reported and defined as a temperature <37.5 °C on two successive readings | Median value (h) reported and defined as as the time at which the blood films were negative for P. falciparum for at least eight hours | Number of episodes (n/N) reported but not defined |
| Taylor 1998 MWI | Median value (h) reported and defined as time required for a child to achieve a Blantyre Coma Score of 5 |
Median value (h) reported and defined as the time at which the rectal or axillary temperature dropped below 37.5°C and remained < 37.5°C for 24 consecutive hours | Median value (h) reported and defined as the time at which the first of two negative (0 parasites/200 WBC) thick blood films was prepared. Every four hours till clearance | Not reported |
| van Hensbroek 1996 GMB | Median value (h) reported and defined as time to regain full consciousness | Median value (h) reported and defined as time needed for the rectal temperature to fall below 38.0°C for at least 24 hours | Median value (h) reported and defined as time needed for all parasites to clear relative to parasite density at admission and assessed every 12 hours till clearance | Number of episodes (n/N) reported and defined as a blood glucose level below 40 mg/dL (2.2 mmol/L) |
| Vinh 1997 VNM | Median value (h) reported and defined as time to regain full consciousness | Median value (h) reported and defined as time for axillary temperature to fall to, and remain for ≥ 24 hours at 37.5°C or lower | Median value (h) reported and defined as time to clear parasites | Not reported |
| Walker 1993 NGA | Mean value (h) reported but not defined | Mean value (h) reported | Mean value (h) reported and defined as the time for parasitaemia to be cleared and to remain so up to Day 7. Assessed every six hours during period of coma and then every 12 hours. | Not reported |
WBC = white blood cell.