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. 2020 Feb 28;2020(2):CD012670. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012670.pub2

Comparison 1. Benzodiazepines (lorazepam) vs placebo.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1 Severity of delirium (assessed by MDAS, higher = worse) 1 50 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.1 [‐0.96, 5.16]
2 Length of hospital admission (days) 1 58 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [‐3.45, 3.45]
3 Mortality from all causes 1 58 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.33 [0.04, 3.02]
4 Discharged (alive from the acute palliative care unit) 1 58 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.29 [0.55, 2.99]
5 Individual side effects (measured with UKU, higher = worse) 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
5.1 Akathasia 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.81 [0.33, 24.16]
5.2 Dystonia 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5.3 Epileptic seizure 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5.4 Hyperkinesia 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.47 [0.05, 4.65]
5.5 Hypokinesia or akinesia 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.70 [0.19, 2.63]
5.6 Paresthesia 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5.7 Rigidity 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5.8 Tremor 1 31 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6 Individual side effects (measured with ESAS, higher = worse) 1   Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
6.1 anxiety 1 25 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐1.30 [‐10.17, 7.57]
6.2 appetite 1 22 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐1.5 [‐7.46, 4.46]
6.3 depression 1 21 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐1.60 [‐8.56, 5.36]
6.4 drowsiness 1 24 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 3.9 [‐2.13, 9.93]
6.5 fatigue 1 17 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.90 [‐5.53, 9.33]
6.6 feeling of well‐being 1 20 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.80 [‐8.42, 6.82]
6.7 nausea 1 19 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.0 [‐6.93, 10.93]
6.8 pain 1 25 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.7 [‐8.46, 7.06]
6.9 shortness of breath 1 25 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.6 [‐8.89, 7.69]
6.10 sleep 1 25 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.5 [‐7.88, 6.88]