Table 2. Characteristics of included articles with hypothermia treatment.

Study and year of publication	HIE stage 1/2/3a (n)	NT/HT (n)	Follow-up	Neurodevelopmental assessment; Definition of adverse outcome	Quality; Reason for reduction
Hallberg 2010 [29]	3/16/4	0/23	12 mo	Serial neurological examinations and AIMS at 4 mo; Death or spasticity and AIMS score <5th percentile	Moderate; Small sample size, retrospective, patients with HIE stage 1 included, short and limited follow-up
Thoresen 2010 [17]	NS, total n = 74, all stage 2 or 3	31/43	18 mo	Bayley II, neurological examination, GMFCS and visual assessment; Death, MDI <70, GMFCS level 3–5 or no useful vision	High
Ancora 2013 [30]	0/8/4	0/12	≥12 mo	Griffiths; Death, CP or DQ <88.7	Low; Small sample size, variable follow-up
Shankaran 2011 [31]	0/71/37	51/57	18 mo	Bayley II, neurological examination, GMFCS, hearing and visual assessment; Death; MDI 70–84 and either a GMFCS level of 2, hearing impairment with no amplification or persistent seizure disorder; MDI <70; GMFCS level 3–5; hearing impairment requiring hearing aids or blindness	High
Gucuyener 2012 [32]	0/6/4	0/10	8–24 mo	Bayley II; Death, CP, MDI or PDI <70	Low; Retrospective, inconsistent follow-up
Csekö 2013 [33]	NS, total n = 70, all stage 2 or 3	0/70	18–24 mo	Bayley II; Death, MDI or PDI <70	Moderate; Retrospective
Azzopardi 2014 [34]	NS, total n = 314, all stage 2 or 3	158/156	18 mo	Bayley II, neurological examination, GMFCS and visual assessmentDeath, CP with GMFCS level 3–5, MDI <70 or bilateral cortical visual impairment	High

AIMS, Alberta Infant Motor Scale; CP, cerebral palsy; DQ, developmental quotient; GMFCS, Gross Motor Function Classification System; MDI, mental developmental index; NT/HT, ratio of cases treated in normothermia/receiving therapeutic hypothermia; PDI, psychomotor developmental index; mo, months