Comparison 3. Antihistamine/decongestant combination versus control.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Primary outcome: cure or no cure at or before 1 month	4	901	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.89, 1.04]
2 Secondary outcome: cure or no cure at 1‐3 months	3	158	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.85, 1.40]
3 Late outcome: cure or no cure after 3 months	2	119	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.24 [0.72, 2.13]
4 Side effect: any significant side effects at or before 1 month	5	972	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.54 [1.76, 3.67]
5 Outcome: hearing at or less than 3 months	3	343	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.93, 1.27]
6 Late outcome: hearing at 1 year	1	48	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.5 [0.63, 3.56]
7 Late outcome: school performance at 1 year	1	42	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.81 [0.35, 1.86]
8 Outcome: surgery (tympanostomy (myringotomy))	2	57	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.54 [0.09, 3.41]
9 Complication: recurrent OME	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 Quality score 3 or greater	1	94	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.67 [0.92, 3.01]
9.2 Quality score less than 3	1	48	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.31, 1.83]
9.3 Allocation concealment adequate	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9.4 Allocation concealment not adequate	2	142	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.3 [0.80, 2.11]
10 Complication: AOM	1	636	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.76 [0.46, 1.26]
10.1 Quality score 3 or greater	1	318	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.76 [0.37, 1.55]
10.2 Quality score less than 3	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.3 Allocation concealment adequate	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.4 Allocation concealment not adequate	1	318	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.76 [0.37, 1.55]