Table 4.

Methodological quality assessment of included randomized controlled trials.

Included studies	Randomized adequatelya	Allocation concealed	Similar baseline	Patient blinded	Care provider blinded	Outcome assessor blinded	Avoided selective reporting	Similar or avoided cofactors	Patients' complianceb	Acceptable drop-out ratec	Similar timing	ITTd analysis	Quality #
Jeudy 2012	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Moderate
Wilcke 2011	Unclear	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Moderate
Wei 2009	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Moderate
Egol 2008	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Moderate
Gradl 2013	Yes	Unlear	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Moderate
Williksen 2013	Yes	Yes	Unclear	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Moderate
Shukla 2014	Yes	Unclear	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Low
Roh 2015	Yes	Unclear	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Moderate
Sha 2015	Yes	Unclear	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Moderate
Navarro 2016	Unclear	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Moderate

^#The frequencies of “Yes” ≥7 means “High”; >4 and <7 mean “Moderate”; ≤4 means “Low”.

^aOnly if the method of sequence generated were explicitly described could get a “Yes”; sequence generated by “dates of admission” or “patients number” receive a “No”.

^bIntermittent treatment or therapeutic duration less than 6 months means “Yes”, otherwise “No”.

^cDrop-out rate ≥30% means “No”; <30% means “Yes”.

^dITT: intention to treat, only if all randomized patients are analyzed in the group they were allocated to could receive a “Yes”.