Comparison 1. Hypertonic saline versus normal saline (0.9%).

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Length of hospital stay (days)	17	1867	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.41 [‐0.75, ‐0.07]
2 Rate of hospitalisation	8	1723	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.76, 0.98]
3 Clinical severity score (post‐treatment) at day 1	9	812	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.77 [‐1.18, ‐0.36]
3.1 Outpatients	1	65	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.28 [‐1.92, ‐0.64]
3.2 Emergency department patients	1	171	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.09 [‐0.51, 0.33]
3.3 Inpatients	7	576	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.82 [‐1.25, ‐0.38]
4 Clinical severity score (post‐treatment) at day 2	8	703	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.28 [‐1.91, ‐0.65]
4.1 Outpatients	1	65	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐2.93, ‐1.07]
4.2 Emergency department patients	1	171	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.27 [‐0.63, 0.09]
4.3 Inpatients	6	467	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.39 [‐1.95, ‐0.84]
5 Clinical severity score (post‐treatment) at day 3	7	499	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.43 [‐1.82, ‐1.04]
5.1 Outpatients	1	65	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.64 [‐3.85, ‐1.43]
5.2 Inpatients	6	434	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.35 [‐1.72, ‐0.98]
6 Rate of re‐admission	6	787	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.77 [0.48, 1.25]
7 Time for resolution of symptoms/signs	2	615	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.19 [‐1.54, ‐0.84]
7.1 Wheezing	2	205	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.16 [‐1.43, ‐0.89]
7.2 Cough	2	205	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.01 [‐1.35, ‐0.66]
7.3 Pulmonary moist crackles	2	205	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.30 [‐2.28, ‐0.32]
8 Radiological assessment score	2	117	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.08 [‐0.90, 0.75]