TABLE 3.
Certainty assessment of evidence according to GRADE (NBP as combination therapy).
| Outcomes | Risk of bias | Inconsistency | Indirectness | Imprecision | Publication bias | No. of patients (studies) | Absolute effects (95% CI) | Certainty of the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MoCA | not serious | serious a | not serious | not serious | strongly suspected b | 1,368 (11) | SMD 0.84 higher (0.67 higher to 1.01 higher) | ⊕⊕ ◯ ◯ Low |
| MMSE | serious c | serious a | not serious | not serious | strongly suspected d | 762 (9) | SMD 1.42 higher (1.15 higher to 1.69 higher) | ⊕ ◯ ◯ ◯ Very low |
| BI | serious c | very serious e | not serious | not serious | strongly suspected d | 776 (8) | SMD 2.28 higher (1.52 higher to 3.04 higher) | ⊕ ◯ ◯ ◯ Very low |
| NIHSS | not serious | serious a | not serious | not serious | strongly suspected d | 769 (5) | SMD 1.28 lower (1.55 lower to 1.01 lower) | ⊕⊕ ◯ ◯ Low |
| CSS | very serious f | serious g | not serious | serious h | strongly suspected d | 108 (1) | MD 7.11 lower (8.42 lower to 5.80 lower) | ⊕ ◯ ◯ ◯ Very low |
Grade assessment with justification given as follows:
a
50% < I 2 < 75%.
b
Based on the publication bias test, there is apparent asymmetry in the funnel plot.
c
Most studies are at high RoB.
d
Too few studies.
e
I 2 ≥ 75%.
f
All studies are at high RoB.
g
Not possible to determine.
h
Small simple size.