Comparison 2. Event‐free survival.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Event‐free Survival ‐ all studies	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
2 Event‐free Survival ‐ different high‐dose settings	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
2.1 High‐dose sequential therapy without induction	2		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.51, 1.12]
2.2 Abbreviated standard induction	7		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.84, 1.13]
2.3 Full standard induction	3		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.50, 1.10]
3 Event‐free Survival ‐ patients' status at randomisation	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
3.1 Patients irrespectively of disease status	10		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.79, 1.04]
3.2 Patients in PR	2		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.67, 1.73]
4 Event‐free Survival ‐ methodological quality	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
4.1 Sufficient method	11		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.83, 1.08]
4.2 Insufficient or unknown method	1		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.36 [0.18, 0.72]
5 Event‐free Survival ‐ study size	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
5.1 > 100 patients	7		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.83, 1.11]
5.2 < 100 patients	5		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.55, 1.01]
6 Event‐free Survival ‐ protocol adherence to HDT	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
6.1 > 70%	7		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.86, 1.22]
6.2 < 70%	5		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.65, 0.97]
7 Event‐free Survival ‐ bone marrow involvement	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
7.1 >20%	5		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.98 [0.82, 1.18]
7.2 <20%	7		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.85 [0.70, 1.03]
8 Event‐free Survival ‐ % of patients with DLCL (wide def.)	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
8.1 > 80%	7		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.65, 0.97]
8.2 < 80%	5		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.86, 1.21]
9 Event‐free Survival ‐ % of patients with DLCL (narrow def.)	12		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.80, 1.05]
9.1 > 70%	6		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.72 [0.58, 0.89]
9.2 < 70%	6		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	1.06 [0.90, 1.26]
10 Event‐free Survival ‐ IPI groups	11		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.84, 1.10]
10.1 IPI ‐ low and low‐intermediate risk	6		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.75, 1.37]
10.2 IPI ‐ high‐intermediate and high risk	11		Hazard Ratio (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.81, 1.11]