10.

Any complications up to three months' follow‐up after randomisation. Fifteen trials provided data. The diversity‐adjusted required information size (DARIS) was calculated based on any complications of 44% in the control group; relative risk reduction (RRR) in the glucocorticosteroid group of 20%; type I error of 1%; and type II error of 20% (80% power). Trial diversity was 75%. The required information size was 5887 participants. The cumulative Z‐curve (blue line) did not cross the trial sequential monitoring boundaries for benefit or harm (red inward sloping lines). The cumulative Z‐curve crossed the inner‐wedge futility line (red outward sloping lines). The green dotted lines show the conventional boundaries of the naive alpha of 5% equal to Z‐scores of +1.96 and –1.96.