Comparison 2. Azathioprine or 6‐mercaptopurine versus 5‐aminosalicylic acid.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Clinical relapse at 12 to 24 months (subgroup by drug type)	4	347	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.89, 1.24]
1.1 Azathioprine	3	256	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.13 [0.94, 1.37]
1.2 6‐mercaptopurine	1	91	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.70, 1.18]
2 Clinical relapse (subgroup by length of follow‐up)	4	347	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.89, 1.24]
2.1 12 months or less	1	79	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.84, 1.39]
2.2 Over 12 months	3	268	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.07 [0.82, 1.39]
3 Endoscopic relapse at 24 months	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
4 Radiologic relapse at 24 months	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
5 Surgical relapse at 24 months	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
6 Adverse events at 12 to 24 months (subgroup by drug type)	4	346	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.74, 1.07]
6.1 Azathioprine	3	255	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.87 [0.70, 1.09]
6.2 6‐mercaptopurine	1	91	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.40 [0.54, 3.62]
7 Adverse events (subgroup by length of follow‐up)	4	346	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.74, 1.07]
7.1 12 months or less	1	78	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.85 [0.70, 1.03]
7.2 Over 12 months	3	268	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.64, 1.38]
8 Serious adverse events at 12 to 24 months (subgroup by drug type)	3	311	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	3.39 [1.26, 9.13]
8.1 Azathioprine	2	220	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	4.68 [0.64, 34.12]
8.2 6‐mercaptopurine	1	91	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	4.69 [0.23, 95.00]
9 Serious adverse events (subgroup by length of follow‐up)	3	311	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	3.39 [1.26, 9.13]
9.1 12 months or less	1	78	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	19.00 [1.15, 313.35]
9.2 Over 12 months	2	233	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.63 [1.12, 6.16]
10 Withdrawal due to adverse events at 12 to 24 months (subgroup by drug type)	5	425	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.21 [1.28, 3.81]
10.1 Azathioprine	4	334	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.76 [1.41, 5.40]
10.2 6‐mercaptopurine	1	91	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.40 [0.54, 3.62]
11 Withdrawal due to adverse events (subgroup by length of follow‐up)	5	425	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.21 [1.28, 3.81]
11.1 12 months or less	2	157	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	3.54 [0.83, 15.08]
11.2 Over 12 months	3	268	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.95 [1.03, 3.68]
12 HRQoL ‐ IBDQ > 170 at 24 months	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
13 HRQoL ‐ IBDQ at 12 months	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected