Liu 2012.

Methods	Randomized controlled trial with parallel groups 1 centre Dates the study was conducted: not reported
Participants	Adults (n = 26) with ARDS and sepsis, including septic shock (n = 12), and with critical illness‐associated corticosteroid insufficiency Setting: intensive care unit Study location: China
Interventions	Hydrocortisone (100 mg intravenous bolus 8‐hourly for 7 consecutive days) Placebo (normal saline)
Outcomes	Primary Unclear Secondary 28‐Day mortality Prevalence of shock within 28 days SOFA score (information for SOFA score at day 7 not available) ICU length of stay Safety
Notes	We contacted the study authors and obtained access to individual patient data Funding source: not declared
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐generated randomization scheme
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No explicit information in the manuscript
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	No explicit information in the manuscript
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	No explicit information in the manuscript
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	No information
Other bias	Unclear risk	No information