Table 10. GRADE for outcomes of this meta-analysis with exposure only during pregnancy.
| Outcomes | No of Participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | Relative effect (95% CI) | Anticipated absolute effects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTU VS Control | 15926 (2 studies1) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ MODERATE due to large effect | OR 0.91 (0.4 to 2.06) | Risk with Control | Risk difference with PTU (95% CI) |
| Study population | |||||
| 8 per 1000 | 1 fewer per 1000(from 5 fewer to 9 more) | ||||
| Moderate | |||||
| 19 per 1000 | 2 fewer per 1000(from 11 fewer to 19 more) | ||||
| MMI/CMZ & PTU VS No ATD | 1220 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ VERY LOW due to imprecision | OR 0.92 (0.22 to 3.87) | Risk with No ATD | Risk difference with MMI/CMZ & PTU (95% CI) |
| Study population | |||||
| 44 per 1000 | 3 fewer per 1000(from 34 fewer to 108 more) | ||||
| Moderate | |||||
| 44 per 1000 | 3 fewer per 1000(from 34 fewer to 107 more) | ||||
| MMI/CMZ VS PTU | 4572 (7 studies1) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ VERY LOW due to risk of bias, inconsistency, imprecision | OR 1.9 (1.3 to 2.78) | Risk with PTU | Risk difference with MMI/CMZ (95% CI) |
| Study population | |||||
| 21 per 1000 | 18 more per 1000(from 6 more to 35 more) | ||||
| Moderate | |||||
| 30 per 1000 | 26 more per 1000(from 9 more to 49 more) | ||||
The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% CI) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence: High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate.
1 case-control and other study designs together.
Abbreviations are as follows: GRADE,Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluations; MMI, methimazole; CMZ, carbimazole; PTU, propylthiouracil; ATD, antithyroid drugs; CI, Confidence interval; OR, Odds ratio; /, or; &, and.