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. 2022 Jul 15;54(1):1994–2010. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2098376

Table 4.

GRADE summary of findings table.

Certainty assessment
Summary of findings
Participants
(studies)
Follow-up
Risk of bias Inconsistency Indirectness Imprecision Publication bias Overall certainty of evidence Study event rates (%)
Relative effect
(95% CI)
Anticipated absolute effects
With control With Beta-blocker Risk with control Risk difference with Beta-blocker
Mortality (all)
 2103 (11 RCTs) Not seriousa Not serious Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
157/1072 (14.6%) 88/1031 (8.5%) RR 0.65
(0.53 to 0.79)
146 per 1 000 51 fewer per 1 000
(from 69 fewer to 31 fewer)
Short-term mortality (<14 days)
 1467
(5 RCTs)
Not serious Seriousb Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁◯
Moderate
37/740 (5.0%) 29/727 (4.0%) RR 0.85
(0.45 to 1.60)
50 per 1 000 8 fewer per 1 000
(from 28 fewer to 30 more)
Long-term mortality (>14 days)
 636
(6 RCTs)
Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
120/332 (36.1%) 59/304 (19.4%) RR 0.60
(0.48 to 0.74)
361 per 1 000 145 fewer per 1 000
(from 188 fewer to 94 fewer)
Heart rate 24 h (beats/min)
 426
(4 RCTs)
Not serious Seriousc Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁◯
Moderate
      MD 11.96 lower
(20.86 lower to 3.06 lower)
MAP 48 h (mmHg)
 210
(2 RCTs)
Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
      MD 1.66 higher
(2.28 lower to 5.61 higher)
MAP 72 h (mmHg)
 210
(2 RCTs)
Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
      MD 2.43 lower
(6.62 lower to 1.75 higher)
Vasopressor load 48 h (µkg/kg/min)
 210
(2 RCTs)
Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
      MD 0.02 higher
(0.02 lower to 0.07 higher)
Vasopressor load 72 h (µkg/kg/min)
 210
(2 RCTs)
Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious None ⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
      MD 0
(0.04 lower to 0.03 higher)

CI: confidence interval; MD: mean difference; RR: risk ratio.

Explanations: aDespite most trials were considered having high overall-risk of bias, this outcome assessment was considered robust. bHeterogeneity: Tau2 = 0.16; Chi2 = 4.02, df = 2 (p = .13); I2 = 50%; cHeterogeneity: Tau2 = 73.81; Chi2 = 32.69, df = 3 (p < .00001); I2 = 91%.