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. 2021 Mar 9;4(1):115–131. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000188

Table 4.

Categorisation of the Fragility and Reverse Fragility Index according to randomised controlled trial design, sample size, compliance assessment method and primary outcomes (n, median and IQR)

N Fragility Index P-value Reverse Fragility Index P-value
Masking
 Single blind 21 4.0 (2.5–10.5) 0.38* 7.0 (3.3–15.3) 0.68*
 Open label 24 7.0 (4.0–12.0) 7.0 (6.0–10.5)
 Not reported 2 CNC 10.5 (0.3–11.8)
Outcome categorisation
 Perinatal outcomes 4 4.0 (3.0–21.5) 0.34* 7.0 (7.0–7.0) 0.98*
 Outcomes related to the MetS and DM 15 11.5 (7.8–17.0) 6.0 (2.5–7.5)
 Cardiovascular outcomes 16 5.0 (3.8–8.3) 10.5 (7.0–17.3)
 Outcomes related to NAFLD 3 1.0 (1.0–1.0) 4.0 (2.5–5.5)
 Other† 9 5.0 (4.3–7.0) 16.0 (13.0–28.0)
Composite outcome
 Yes‡ 15 6.0 (4.0–16.8) 0.29§ 7.0 (7.0–7.0) 0.85§
 No¶ 32 5.0 (3.3–8.5) 7.0 (3.3–13.8)
Sample size
 <1000 patients 20 5.0 (4.0–7.0) 0.64§ 7.0 (2.0–13.0) 0.57§
 ≥1000 patients 27 7.0 (3.5–12.5) 7.0 (6.0–14.8)
Dietary compliance assessment methods
 Questionnaires (FFQs, diet scores)/diet history 22 5.0 (2.3–10.8) 0.59* 7.0 (6.3–13.0) 0.035*
 Diet recalls or records 7 4.5 (3.3–11.8) 2.0 (1.5–2.5)
 Biomarkers 18 6.0 (4.0–11.0) 11.0 (6.0–27.3)

*Based on the Kruskal-Wallis test.

†First incidence of breast cancer, cataract surgery, osteoporotic fractures, return to robustness, depression.

‡Maternal/offspring composite outcome, incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascular (CV) mortality, composite CV events, optimal CV risk factor control, total cardiac events, total outcome endpoints.

§Based on the Mann-Whitney U test.

¶incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), atrial fibrillation, heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), depression, first invasive breast cancer, steatosis, non-fatal myocardial infarction, cataract surgery, diabetic retinopathy, osteoporotic fractures, need for T2DM medication, reversion to robustness, weight loss, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) resolution, new symptomatic periphery artery disease cases, reversion of MetS.

CNC, could not be calculated; DM, diabetes mellitus; FFQ, food frequency questionnaire;IQR, interquartile range.