Comparison 2. Continuous infusion versus bolus administration of corticosteroids.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 28‐Day all‐cause mortality	3	310	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.81, 1.31]
2 90‐Day all‐cause mortality	1	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.87 [0.61, 1.22]
3 Long‐term mortality	1	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.36 [1.02, 1.81]
4 Intensive care unit mortality	4	358	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.80, 1.29]
5 Hospital mortality	2	240	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.72, 1.25]
6 Number of participants with shock reversal at day 7	4	358	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.59, 1.10]
7 Number of participants with shock reversal at day 28	1	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.45, 1.34]
8 SOFA score at day 7	3	260	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [‐0.25, 2.26]
9 Length of intensive care unit stay for all participants	3	310	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.05 [‐4.54, 2.45]
10 Length of hospital stay for all participants	3	310	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.01 [‐5.05, 5.07]
11 Number of participants with adverse events	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
11.1 Gastrointestinal bleeding	2	193	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.10, 6.37]
11.2 Superinfection	2	193	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.12 [0.37, 3.33]
11.3 Hyperglycaemia	3	310	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.47, 1.71]
11.4 Hypernatraemia	2	187	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.34, 1.61]
11.5 Muscle weakness	1	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.13, 5.98]
11.6 Neuropsychiatric event	1	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.56 [0.50, 4.86]
11.7 Stroke	1	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11.8 Cardiac event	1	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]