Comparison 4. 5‐ASA versus comparator 5‐ASA.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
4.1 Failure to induce global/clinical remission	11	1968	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.86, 1.02]
4.1.1 Asacol comparator	6	720	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.85, 1.04]
4.1.2 Claversal comparator	2	530	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.78, 1.17]
4.1.3 Salofalk comparator	2	491	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.72, 1.18]
4.1.4 Pentasa comparator	1	227	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.74, 1.10]
4.2 Failure to induce global/clinical remission (sensitivity analysis)	9	1681	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.87, 1.04]
4.2.1 Asacol comparator	5	660	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.86, 1.07]
4.2.2 Claversal comparator	2	530	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.78, 1.17]
4.2.3 Salofalk comparator	2	491	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.72, 1.18]
4.3 Failure to induce global/clinical improvement (including remission)	8	1647	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.77, 1.01]
4.3.1 Asacol comparator	3	399	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.73, 1.11]
4.3.2 Claversal comparator	2	530	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.67, 1.10]
4.3.3 Salofalk comparator	2	491	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.74, 1.36]
4.3.4 Pentasa comparator	1	227	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.70 [0.45, 1.08]
4.4 Failure to induce global/clinical improvement (sensitivity analysis)	7	1420	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.79, 1.05]
4.4.1 Asacol comparator	3	399	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.73, 1.11]
4.4.2 Claversal comparator	2	530	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.67, 1.10]
4.4.3 Salofalk comparator	2	491	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.74, 1.36]
4.5 Adverse events	9	1576	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.01 [0.92, 1.12]
4.5.1 Asacol comparator	5	556	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.80, 1.03]
4.5.2 Claversal comparator	2	530	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.30 [1.01, 1.66]
4.5.3 Salofalk comparator	2	490	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.99 [0.81, 1.20]
4.6 Serious adverse events	4	677	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.59 [0.22, 1.56]
4.6.1 Asacol comparator	2	277	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.05, 2.11]
4.6.2 Claversal comparator	1	168	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.68 [0.16, 2.95]
4.6.3 Salofalk comparator	1	232	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.14, 6.74]
4.7 Withdrawals due to adverse events	9	1489	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.57, 1.54]
4.7.1 Asacol comparator	6	726	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.48 [0.22, 1.04]
4.7.2 Claversal comparator	2	530	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.48 [0.70, 3.14]
4.7.3 Salofalk comparator	1	233	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.90 [0.44, 34.35]
4.8 Exclusions and withdrawals after study entry	9	1574	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.99 [0.80, 1.22]
4.8.1 Asacol comparator	5	553	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.67, 1.24]
4.8.2 Claversal comparator	2	530	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.10 [0.74, 1.63]
4.8.3 Salofalk comparator	2	491	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.01 [0.67, 1.51]