Comparison 1. NIPPV vs NCPAP (by population).

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Respiratory failure	10	1060	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.65 [0.51, 0.82]
1.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	2	150	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.37 [0.15, 0.90]
1.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	6	774	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.56, 0.97]
1.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.47 [0.24, 0.91]
2 Need for intubation	9	950	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.64, 0.94]
2.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	1	40	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.12, 3.57]
2.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	6	774	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.84 [0.69, 1.02]
2.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.47 [0.24, 0.91]
3 Mortality during study period	10	1061	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.77 [0.51, 1.15]
3.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	2	150	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.07, 16.76]
3.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	6	775	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.82 [0.52, 1.30]
3.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.55 [0.21, 1.42]
4 Chronic lung disease	9	899	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.58, 1.06]
4.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	2	150	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.54 [0.29, 1.00]
4.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	5	627	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.64, 1.32]
4.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	2	122	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.39 [0.08, 1.91]
5 Pneumothorax	10	1061	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.42, 1.48]
5.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	2	150	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.45 [0.07, 2.94]
5.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	6	775	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.23 [0.52, 2.91]
5.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.43 [0.13, 1.41]
6 Intraventricular hemorrhage (all grades)	5	370	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.54, 1.16]
6.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	1	40	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.2 [0.01, 3.92]
6.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	3	270	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.82 [0.56, 1.22]
6.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	1	60	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7 Severe intraventricular hemorrhage (grade III/IV)	4	430	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.26 [0.53, 3.01]
7.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	1	110	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	5.37 [0.26, 109.35]
7.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	3	320	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.01 [0.39, 2.59]
7.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
8 Necrotizing enterocolitis (≥ Bell's stage 2)	7	718	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.34, 1.31]
8.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	2	150	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.54 [0.10, 2.82]
8.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	4	492	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.58 [0.25, 1.33]
8.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	1	76	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.58 [0.28, 8.93]
9 Sepsis	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.36, 1.70]
9.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.36, 1.70]
10 Retinopathy of prematurity (≥ stage 3)	2	245	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.50 [0.65, 3.44]
10.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	1	110	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.22 [0.13, 77.41]
10.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	1	135	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.39 [0.58, 3.30]
10.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11 Local upper airway injury	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.11 [0.03, 0.41]
11.1 Surfactant (via INSURE) before enrollment	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11.2 No surfactant treatment before enrollment	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11.3 Mixed population (re: surfactant treatment) before enrollment	2	136	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.11 [0.03, 0.41]