Summary of findings 3. Benzodiazepines (lorazepam) vs antipsychotics (haloperidol) for treatment of delirium in non‐ICU settings.

Benzodiazepines (lorazepam) vs antipsychotics (haloperidol) for treatment of delirium in non‐ICU settings
Patient or population: adult AIDS patients with delirium Settings: general medical wards Intervention: benzodiazepine (lorazepam) Comparison: antipsychotic (haloperidol)
Outcomes	Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)		Relative effect (95% CI)	No of Participants (studies)	Certainty of the evidence (GRADE)	Comments
	Risk with antipsychotics (haloperidol)	Risk with Benzodiazepines (lorazepam)
Length of delirium episode	See comment	See comment	See comment	See comment	See comment	Outcome not reported
Severity of delirium DRS, higher = worse Follow‐up: end of treatment	Mean was 11.64	MD 5.36 higher (0.01 lower to 10.73 higher)	‐	17 (1 study)	⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2
Any adverse event ESRS, higher = worse Follow‐up: baseline to maintain (no details reported)	Mean was5.54	MD 6.66 higher (1.53 lower to 14.85 higher)	‐	17 (1 study)	⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2	ESRS: subjective questionnaire of parkinsonian symptoms; an objective examination of parkinsonism, dystonia, and dyskinetic movements; and a clinical global impression of tardive dyskinesia. The objective parkinsonism subscale includes ratings of tremor, akathisia, expressive automatic movements, bradykinesia, rigidity, gait and posture, and sialorrhoea. The maximum total score for this subscale is 108.
Length of hospital admission	See comment	See comment	See comment	See comment	See comment	No studies reported this outcome, so there is no evidence to support or refute benefits of the intervention.
Mortality from all causes Follow‐up: 1 week after completing the protocol	182 per 1000	333 per 1000 (62 to 1000)	RR 1.83 (0.34 to 9.92)	17 (1 study)	⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2
*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome CI: confidence interval; DRS: delirium rating scale; ICU: intensive care unit; MD: mean difference; RR: risk ratio
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited; the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

¹ Downgraded by one level due to risk of bias: high risk for attrition and other bias

² Downgraded by two levels due to imprecision: very small sample size and wide CIs