Comparison 5. Sensitivity analysis: excluding poorly‐controlled studies.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality (Longest follow‐up)	22	2586	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.65 [0.48, 0.89]
2 Mortality (Hospital or 28 day)	22	2586	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.66 [0.47, 0.92]
3 Renal Impairment	12	1601	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.47, 1.03]
4 Arrhythmia	5	469	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.57 [0.30, 1.07]
5 Infection (Number of patients with infections)	7	509	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.87 [0.68, 1.11]
6 Respiratory Failure/ ARDS	7	616	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.55 [0.27, 1.10]
7 Myocardial Infarction	6	622	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.66 [0.25, 1.73]
8 Congestive Heart Failure/ Pulmonary oedema	7	587	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.64 [0.33, 1.26]
9 Venous Thrombosis	5	388	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.50 [0.11, 2.32]
10 Number of patients with complications	14	1573	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.66 [0.53, 0.81]
11 Length of Hospital Stay [Days]	18	2023	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.61 [‐2.85, ‐0.37]
12 Length of Critical Care Stay [Days]	9	1391	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.74 [‐1.43, ‐0.06]