Table 2. Summary of findings and strength of evidence in studies of the effects of intensive follow-up among patients with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer.
| Outcome | No. of patients (Studies) |
Relative effect (95% CI) |
I2 | Absolute effect estimates (per 1000) |
Strength of Evidence (GRADE) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less Follow-up | Intensive Follow-up | Difference | |||||
| Overall survival | 7170 (15) |
HR 0.85 (0.74 to 0.97) |
36% | 240 | 206 | -34 (-7 to -59) | High |
| Colorectal survival | 4003 (9) |
HR 0.90 (0.77 to 1.04) |
0% | 112 | 105 | -7 (-9 to 53) | High |
| Relapse-free survival | 5359 (13) |
HR 1.04 (0.94 to 1.16) |
0% | 113 | 120 | 7 (-11 to 27) | High |
| Salvage surgery | 4558 (13) |
OR 2.23 (1.59 to 3.12) |
62% | 62 | 128 | 66 (33 to 109) | Moderate1 |
| Interval recurrences | 5832 (8) |
OR 0.72 (0.44 to 1.19) |
82% | 147 | 110 | -37 (-76 to 23) | Low1,2 |
CI: Confidence interval; HR: Hazard ratio; OR: odds ratio
1 inconsistency
2 imprecisions