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. 2022 Oct 3;2022(10):CD013337. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013337.pub2

Summary of findings 2. H2 antagonists compared to placebo for prevention of weight gain in people with schizophrenia.

H2 antagonists compared to placebo for prevention of weight gain in people with schizophrenia
Patient or population: people with schizophrenia with antipsychotic‐induced weight gain
Setting: inpatients or outpatients
Intervention: H2 antagonists
Comparison: placebo
Outcomes Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI) Relative effect
(95% CI) № of participants
(studies) Certainty of the evidence
(GRADE) Comments
Risk with placebo Risk with H2 antagonists
Weight: clinically important change in weight (kg) Study population Not estimable (0 RCTs) No data available
Not estimable Not estimable
Weight: average endpoint/change in body weight (kg) Average endpoint/change in body weight ranged from 4.18 to 4.88 MD 1.32 lower
(2.09 lower to 0.56 lower) 248
(3 RCTs) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowa,b  
Weight: clinically important change in BMI (kg/m2) Study population Not estimable (0 RCTs) No data available
Not estimable Not estimable
Weight: average endpoint/change in BMI (kg/m2) Average endpoint/change in BMI was 1.82 MD 0.66 lower
(0.99 lower to 0.33 lower) 79
(2 RCTs) ⊕⊝⊝⊝
Very lowa,b  
Leaving the study early: for any reason Study population RR 1.07
(0.72 to 1.57) 189
(2 RCTs) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowa,b  
343 per 1000 367 per 1000
(247 to 539)
Compliance with treatment Study population Not estimable (0 RCTs) No data available
Not estimable Not estimable
Reports of nausea Study population RR 1.13
(0.34 to 3.68) 175
(1 RCT) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowa,b  
67 per 1000 75 per 1000
(23 to 245)
*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

BMI: body mass index; CI: confidence interval; MD: mean difference; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RR: risk ratio
GRADE Working Group grades of evidenceHigh certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited; the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

aThe risk of bias is uncertain for most studies included in this comparison.
bThe total number of participants included in the review is less than the number of participants required for a single, adequately powered study.