Table 4.
Sensitivity Analyses
| Outcome | N RCTs | N patients | Effect estimate (95% CI)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curcuminoid vs. Placebo | |||
| WOMAC Pain only37,40 | 2 | 165 | SMD −0.47 (−0.78, −0.16), I2= 0% |
| VAS Pain only36–39 | 4 | 206 | SMD −1.16 (−1.71, −0.62), I2= 69% |
| Pain-Bioavailable curcumin only36–38,40 | 4 | 264 | SMD −0.77 (−1.32, −0.22), I2= 76% |
| Function-Bioavailable curcumin only37,40 | 2 | 165 | SMD −0.50 (−0.93, −0.06), I2= 37% |
| Boswellia vs. Placebo | |||
| WOMAC Pain only42–44 | 3 | 186 | SMD −1.37 (−1.70, −1.04), I2= 0% |
| VAS Pain studies with Total N >3042–44 | 3 | 186 | SMD −1.67 (−2.16, −1.17), I2= 50% |
| Function by any scale in studies with Total N >3042–44 | 3 | 186 | SMD −1.10 (−1.42, −0.78), I2= 0% |
| Curcuminoid vs. NSAID | |||
| WOMAC Pain only46 | 1 | 331 | SMD 0.09 (−0.12, 0.31), I2= NA |
| VAS Pain only45 | 1 | 91 | SMD −0.28 (−0.70, 0.13), I2= NA |
*
Statistically significant effects are written in bold font. Negative standardized mean differences favor Treatment, and positive standardized mean differences favor NSAID. Risk ratios less than one favor Treatment, and risk ratios greater than one favor NSAID.
RCT= Randomized controlled trial; N= “number of…”; CI= Confidence Interval; SMD= Standardized Mean Difference; I2= measure of heterogeneity, with 100% being the maximum possible heterogeneity; NA= Not applicable; RR= Risk Ratio