Table 2.
Effectiveness In Superiority Trials Assessed By Random Risk Ratio and Heterogeneity
| Treatments | Trials | Comparisons | Random Risk Ratio (95% CI) | Heterogeneity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | All | 48 | 52 | 2.23 (1.90, 2.61) | I2 = 84% |
| DAS28 Remissions | 38 | 40 | 2.26 (1.89, 2.71) | I2 = 85% | |
| Other Remission Criteria | 10 | 12 | 2.13 (1.53, 2.98) | I2 = 81% | |
| 6 Month Duration | 21 | 24 | 3.78 (2.60, 5.51) | I2 = 86% | |
| 12 Month Duration | 19 | 20 | 1.73 (1.44, 2.09) | I2 = 82% | |
| 18–36 Month Duration | 8 | 8 | 1.84 (1.39, 2.42) | I2 = 79% | |
| Used TTT Strategy | 8 | 9 | 1.62 (1.30, 2.03) | I2 = 75% | |
| Early | Alla | 22 | 23 | 1.56 (1.38, 1.76) | I2 = 74% |
| TNF Inhibitors | 13 | 13 | 1.44 (1.26, 1.66) | I2 = 62% | |
| Other Biologics | 5 | 5 | 2.00 (1.53, 2.63) | I2 = 79% | |
| Combination DMARDSb | 5 | 5 | 1.46 (1.11, 1.93) | I2 = 73% | |
| Used TTT Strategy | 6 | 7 | 1.51 (1.22, 1.88) | I2 = 72% | |
| Established | All | 26 | 29 | 4.21 (2.92, 6.07) | I2 = 86% |
| TNF Inhibitors | 10 | 10 | 3.59 (2.14, 6.03) | I2 = 70% | |
| Other Biologics | 10 | 10 | 6.81 (2.62, 17.7) | I2 = 95% | |
| Combination DMARDS | 3 | 3 | 2.41 (1.14, 5.10) | I2 = 67% | |
| JAK Inhibitors | 6 | 6 | 3.39 (2.14, 5.36) | I2 = 0% | |
| Used TTT Strategy | 2 | 2 | 2.39 (0.90, 6.32) | I2 = 83% |
aThe 4 very early trials which enrolled patients with disease durations no more than 6 months involved 4 comparisons with a random risk ratio (95% CI) of 1.47 (1.03, 2.10) and I2 72%
bExcluding the Schipper et al. study in which some patients in both groups had DMARD monotherapy, DMARD combination therapy and TNF inhibitors leaves 4 trials with 4 comparisons with a random risk ratio (95% CI) of 1.38 (1.01, 1.88) and I2 71%
Abbreviations: DAS28 Disease Activity Score for 28 joints, TNF Tumour necrosis factor, DMARDs Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, JAK Janus kinase, TTT Treat To Target