Fig. 1.

Meta-analysis to investigate the effect of short- versus long-acting G-CSFs on the incidence of FN in RCTs and non-RCTs and the incidence of FN-related hospitalizations in non-RCTs.^a i Meta-analysis of FN incidence in RCTs, ii meta-analysis of FN incidence in non-RCTs using a fixed-effect model, and iii meta-analysis of the incidence of FN-related hospitalizations in non-RCTs using a fixed-effect model. ^aThe dotted square shows studies in which G-CSF administration adhered to label recommendations (≥ 7 days of treatment). ^bShi et al. [52] was excluded from the original analysis because no FN events were reported in either treatment group. ^cBozzoli et al. [33] was excluded from the sensitivity analysis because the duration of G-CSF administration was < 7 days. ^dResults are based on a “broad” definition of FN, defined using hospital codes for neutropenia, fever, and infection. CI confidence interval, FN febrile neutropenia, G-CSF granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, I² Chi squared, RCT randomized controlled trial, RR relative risk