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. 2022 Oct 24;20:355. doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02559-y

Table 2.

Pooling results of bodies of evidence from RCTs with cohort studies based on random effects and common effects models, 95% prediction intervals, heterogeneity, test for subgroup difference, and population (P), intervention (I)/exposure (E), comparator (C), and outcome similarity degree

Author, year, and reference Intervention/exposure Outcome BoE RCTs, n Effect estimate (95% CI) I2 (%)/tau2 BoE CSs, n Effect estimate
(95% CI)
I2 (%)/tau2 Pooled effect estimate (95%) RE
(95% prediction interval)
I2 (%)/tau2 Weight RCTs (%) RCT conclusion modified Test for subgroup difference (p-value) Pooled effect estimate (95%) CE Degree of PI/ECO similarity*
Aburto 2013 [14] Low sodium Mortality 4 RR: 0.70 (0.44, 1.14) 0/0.00 7 RR: 0.94 (0.83, 1.06) 61/0.02

RR: 0.93

(0.83, 1.04)

(0.68, 1.26)

47/0.02 5.0 N 0.25 RR: 0.94 (0.88, 1.00) 2
Aburto 2013 [14] Low sodium Cardiovascular disease 2 RR: 0.84 (0.57, 1.23) 0/0.00 9 RR: 0.90 (0.75, 1.08) 78/0.07

RR: 0.89

(0.75, 1.06)

(0.49, 1.62)

74/0.07 8.7 N 0.78 RR: 0.86 (0.80, 0.93) 2
Ahmad 2015 [15] Intra-aortic balloon pump Mortality 12 OR: 0.96 (0.74, 1.24) 0/0.00 14 OR: 1.02 (0.57, 1.82) 97/1.03

OR: 1.02

(0.67, 1.56)

(0.14, 7.32)

95/0.86 37.8 N 0.85 OR: 0.76 (0.72, 0.82) 1
Alipanah 2018 [16] Self-administered therapy Treatment success 4 RR: 0.95 (0.87, 1.03) 25/0.00 16 RR: 0.81 (0.74, 0.88) 91/0.02

RR: 0.84

(0.78, 0.90)

(0.62, 1.14)

89/0.02 19.1 Y 0.01 RR: 0.92 (0.90, 0.94) 3
Alipanah 2018 [16] Self-administered therapy Treatment completion 5 RR: 0.79 (0.57, 1.09) 45/0.06 14 RR: 1.10 (0.91, 1.33) 86/0.07

RR: 1.02

(0.84, 1.23)

(0.51, 2.02)

88/0.10 24.4 N 0.08 RR: 1.12 (1.07, 1.17) 3
Alipanah 2018 [16] Self-administered therapy Mortality 4 RR: 0.73 (0.45, 1.19) 0/0.00 23 RR: 1.35 (1.00, 1.83) 90/0.34

RR: 1.26

(0.95, 1.67)

(0.37, 4.28)

88/0.33 9.8 N 0.04 RR: 1.26 (1.18, 1.34) 3
Anglemyer 2013 [17] Antiretroviral therapy HIV infection 1 RR: 0.11 (0.04, 0.30) NA 9 RR: 0.59 (0.36, 0.97) 63/0.25

RR: 0.45

(0.26, 0.78)

(0.09, 2.31)

75/0.42 11.8 N 0.003 RR: 0.72 (0.64, 0.82) 3
Azad 2017 [18] Non-nutritive sweeteners BMI 3 MD: −0.37 (−1.10, 0.36) 9/0.07 1 MD: 0.77 (0.47, 1.07) NA

MD: 0.23

(−0.77, 1.23)

(−3.88, 4.34)

79/0.65 61.4 N 0.005 MD: 0.53 (0.26, 0.80) 2
Barnard 2015 [19] Surgical abortion by mid-level providers Failure or incomplete abortion 2 RR: 2.84 (0.24, 32.97) 65/2.22 2 RR: 2.47 (1.44, 4.23) 0/0.00

RR: 2.23

(1.15, 4.32)

(0.24, 20.54)

33/0.15 34.5 Y 0.91 RR: 2.14 (1.35, 3.39) 2
Barnard 2015 [19] Surgical abortion by mid-level providers Complications 2 RR: 0.94 (0.14, 6.44) 0/0.00 2 RR: 1.30 (0.57, 2.96) 70/0.26

RR: 1.31

(0.70, 2.42)

(0.17, 10.11)

32/0.13 9.7 N 0.76 RR: 1.51 (1.05, 2.17) 2
Barnard 2015 [19] Surgical abortion by mid-level providers Abortion failure and complications 2 RR: 2.93 (0.19, 44.15) 72/2.90 3 RR: 1.33 (0.78, 2.27) 74/0.16

RR: 1.36

(0.83, 2.21)

(0.29, 6.32)

65/0.17 19.5 N 0.58 RR: 1.43 (1.12, 1.82) 2
Bellemain-Appaix 2012 [20] Clopidogrel pretreatment for percutaneous coronary intervention Mortality 7 OR: 0.80 (0.58, 1.10) 0/0.00 8 OR: 0.79 (0.53, 1.18) 79/0.23

OR: 0.77

(0.57, 1.04)

(0.30, 2.02)

66/0.17 30.7 N 0.96 OR: 0.65 (0.57, 0.75) 2
Bellemain-Appaix 2012 [20] Clopidogrel pretreatment for percutaneous coronary intervention Major bleeding 7 OR: 1.18 (0.93, 1.50) 0/0.00 8 OR: 1.03 (0.69, 1.53) 64/0.16

OR: 1.04

(0.81, 1.33)

(0.54, 2.03)

46/0.08 40.4 N 0.56 OR: 1.07 (0.92, 1.24) 2
Bellemain-Appaix 2012 [20] Clopidogrel pretreatment for percutaneous coronary intervention Major coronary event 7 OR: 0.77 (0.66, 0.89) 4/0.00 8 OR: 0.76 (0.60, 0.95) 82/0.08

OR: 0.76

(0.65, 0.89)

(0.45, 1.29)

69/0.05 36.0 N 0.92 OR: 0.78 (0.73, 0.85) 2
Bellemain-Appaix 2014 [21] P2Y12 inhibitor pretreatment in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome Mortality 3 OR: 0.90 (0.71, 1.14) 5/0.01 4 OR: 0.69 (0.35, 1.32) 35/0.17

OR: 0.90

(0.75, 1.07)

(0.65, 1.24)

10/0.01 66.8 N 0.44 OR: 0.91 (0.80, 1.04) 2
Bellemain-Appaix 2014 [21] P2Y12 inhibitor pretreatment in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome Major bleeding 3 OR: 1.43 (1.16, 1.76) 0/0.00 4 OR: 1.13 (0.92, 1.39) 0/0.00

OR: 1.27

(1.10, 1.47)

(1.05, 1.54)

0/0.00 49.7 N 0.11 OR: 1.27 (1.10, 1.47) 2
Bellemain-Appaix 2014 [21] P2Y12 inhibitor pretreatment in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome Main composite ischemic endpoint 3 OR: 0.87 (0.73, 1.04) 48/0.01 4 OR: 0.78 (0.56, 1.08) 65/0.07

OR: 0.84

(0.72, 0.98)

(0.56, 1.26)

52/0.02 55.0 Y 0.55 OR: 0.85 (0.78, 0.93) 2
Bloomfield 2016 [22] Mediterranean diet Breast cancer 1 RR: 0.43 (0.21, 0.88) NA 13 RR: 0.96 (0.90, 1.03) 52/0.01

RR: 0.95

(0.89, 1.02)

(0.78, 1.17)

57/0.01 0.9 Y 0.03 RR: 0.98 (0.95, 1.02) 2
Bolland 2015 [23] High calcium All fractures 22 RR: 0.90 (0.83, 0.97) 23/0.00 5 RR: 1.02 (0.93, 1.12) 68/0.01

RR: 0.94

(0.88, 1.00)

(0.78, 1.14)

50/0.01 58.0 Y 0.04 RR: 0.99 (0.96, 1.02) 2
Bolland 2015 [23] High calcium Vertebral fracture 12 RR: 0.86 (0.74, 1.00) 0/0.00 1 RR: 1.40 (1.10, 1.78) NA

RR: 0.94

(0.79, 1.11)

(0.65, 1.34)

22/0.02 76.7 N 0.0007 RR: 0.98 (0.87, 1.11) 2
Bolland 2015 [23] High calcium Hip fracture 13 RR: 0.95 (0.76, 1.18) 36/0.04 6 RR: 1.09 (0.91, 1.30) 50/0.03

RR: 1.02

(0.89, 1.18)

(0.67, 1.56)

46/0.04 42.8 N 0.34 RR: 0.98 (0.91, 1.07) 2
Brenner 2014 [24] Sigmoidoscopy, screening for CRC Colorectal cancer mortality 4 RR: 0.72 (0.65, 0.80) 0/0.00 1 RR: 0.59 (0.45, 0.77) NA

RR: 0.70

(0.64, 0.77)

(0.60, 0.82)

0/0.00 87.3 N 0.18 RR: 0.70 (0.64, 0.77) 1
Brenner 2014 [24] Sigmoidoscopy, screening for CRC Colorectal cancer incidence 4 RR: 0.82 (0.75, 0.90) 51/0.00 2 RR: 0.50 (0.37, 0.69) 0/0.00

RR: 0.78

(0.69, 0.89)

(0.55, 1.11)

65/0.01 89.0 N 0.003 RR: 0.79 (0.74, 0.84) 2
Chowdhury 2012 [25] High omega-3-fatty acids Cerebrovascular disease 2 RR: 0.99 (0.90, 1.08) 10/0.00 10 RR: 0.89 (0.80, 0.99) 17/0.01

RR: 0.93

(0.85, 1.01)

(0.78, 1.10)

21/0.00 40.7 N 0.17 RR: 0.95 (0.89, 1.01) 2
Chowdhury 2014a [76] High α-linolenic acid Coronary event 4 RR: 0.97 (0.69, 1.36) 52/0.06 7 RR: 0.99 (0.88, 1.11) 61/0.02

RR: 0.99

(0.88, 1.11)

(0.72, 1.37)

54/0.02 21.4 N 0.92 RR: 1.01 (0.95, 1.08) 3
Chowdhury 2014a [76] High omega-3-fatty acids Coronary event 17 RR: 0.94 (0.86, 1.03) 17/0.01 16 RR: 0.87 (0.78, 0.97) 76/0.03

RR: 0.90

(0.83, 0.97)

(0.66, 1.22)

61/0.02 38.1 Y 0.26 RR: 0.93 (0.89, 0.97) 3
Chowdhury 2014a [76] High omega-6-fatty acids Coronary event 8 RR: 0.86 (0.69, 1.07) 59/0.05 8 RR: 0.98 (0.90, 1.06) 54/0.01

RR: 0.94

(0.87, 1.03)

(0.73, 1.21)

56/0.01 30.0 N 0.27 RR: 0.96 (0.94, 1.01) 3
Chung 2016 [27] High calcium Cardiovascular disease mortality 2 RR: 1.05 (0.82, 1.33) 0/0.00 6 RR: 0.97 (0.86, 1.09) 37/0.01

RR: 0.99

(0.92, 1.07)

(0.86, 1.15)

11/0.00 10.1 N 0.58 RR: 1.01 (0.95, 1.07) 2
Ding 2017 [28] High dairy Systolic blood pressure 8 MD: −0.21 (−0.98, 0.57) 0/0.00 27 MD: −0.11 (−0.20, −0.02) 30/0.01

MD: −0.11

(−0.20, −0.03)

(−0.34, 0.11)

24/0.01 1.2 Y 0.80 MD: −0.16 (−0.21, −0.11) 2
Fenton 2018 [29] Radiation therapy Erectile dysfunction 1 RR: 0.91 (0.77, 1.08) NA 7 RR: 1.30 (1.19, 1.43) 31/0.00

RR: 1.24

(1.09, 1.41)

(0.83, 1.86)

70/0.02 14.3 Y 0.0003 RR: 1.23 (1.15, 1.32) 2
Fenton 2018 [29] Radical prostatectomy Urinary incontinence 3 RR: 2.25 (1.80, 2.82) 0/0.00 5 RR: 2.91 (1.80, 4.71) 67/0.18

RR: 2.54

(1.97, 3.27)

(1.28, 5.03)

51/0.06 47.9 N 0.34 RR: 2.46 (2.08, 2.90) 2
Fenton 2018 [29] Radical prostatectomy Erectile dysfunction 3 RR: 1.60 (1.24, 2.07) 87/0.05 6 RR: 1.49 (1.33, 1.66) 63/0.01

RR: 1.53

(1.37, 1.70)

(1.07, 2.18)

75/0.02 34.9 N 0.62 RR: 1.50 (1.42, 1.58) 2
Filippini 2017 [30] Disease-modifying drugs Conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis 7 HR: 0.52 (0.46, 0.60) 0/0.00 2 HR: 0.48 (0.30, 0.78) 62/0.08

HR: 0.53

(0.47, 0.59)

(0.46, 0.61)

0/0.00 70.0 N 0.74 HR: 0.53 (0.47, 0.59) 2
Fluri 2010 [31] Extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass Mortality 2 OR: 0.81 (0.62, 1.05) 0/0.00 11 OR: 0.97 (0.58, 1.62) 0/0.00

OR: 0.84

(0.66, 1.06)

(0.64, 1.09)

0/0.00 79.7 N 0.54 OR: 0.84 (0.66, 1.06) 2
Fluri 2010 [31] Extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass Any stroke 2 OR: 0.44 (0.06, 3.21) 85/1.80 15 OR: 0.76 (0.49, 1.17) 2/0.02

OR: 0.77

(0.50, 1.17)

(0.29, 2.05)

29/0.17 32.5 N 0.60 OR: 0.95 (0.78, 1.16) 2
Fluri 2010 [31] Extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass Death or dependency 1 OR: 0.94 (0.74, 1.21) NA 8 OR: 0.81 (0.50, 1.31) 0/0.00

OR: 0.91

(0.73, 1.14)

(0.70, 1.19)

0/0.00 79.4 N 0.59 OR: 0.91 (0.73, 1.14) 2
Gargiulo 2016 [32] Transcatheter aortic valve implantation Early mortality 5 OR: 0.80 (0.58, 1.11) 0/0.00 29 OR: 1.08 (0.84, 1.39) 41/0.16

OR: 1.01

(0.81, 1.26)

(0.47, 2.20)

39/0.13 18.4 N 0.16 OR: 1.02 (0.88, 1.19) 2
Gargiulo 2016 [32] Transcatheter aortic valve implantation Mid-term mortality 5 OR: 0.90 (0.71, 1.13) 22/0.01 18 OR: 1.00 (0.81, 1.24) 46/0.08

OR: 0.96

(0.82, 1.13)

(0.59, 1.58)

40/0.05 29.0 N 0.49 OR: 0.93 (0.83, 1.04) 2
Gargiulo 2016 [32] Transcatheter aortic valve implantation Long-term mortality 4 OR: 1.03 (0.77, 1.37) 65/0.05 6 OR: 1.70 (1.31, 2.20) 0/0.00

OR: 1.28

(1.00, 1.65)

(0.62, 2.66)

62/0.08 53.3 N 0.01 OR: 1.18 (1.03, 1.35) 2
Hartling 2013 [33] Treating gestational diabetes mellitus Birth weight > 4000g 5 RR: 0.50 (0.36, 0.71) 49/0.07 6 RR: 0.69 (0.31, 1.54) 88/0.64

RR: 0.58

(0.40, 0.86)

(0.17, 2.01)

79/0.25 51.7 N 0.49 RR: 0.54 (0.46, 0.63) 2
Hartling 2013 [33] Treating gestational diabetes mellitus Large-for-gestational age neonate 3 RR: 0.56 (0.45, 0.69) 0/0.00 4 RR: 0.43 (0.27, 0.70) 58/0.13

RR: 0.47

(0.36, 0.62)

(0.22, 1.02)

60/0.07 50.2 N 0.35 RR: 0.45 (0.39, 0.52) 2
Hartling 2013 [33] Treating gestational diabetes mellitus Shoulder dystocia 3 RR: 0.42 (0.23, 0.77) 0/0.00 4 RR: 0.38 (0.19, 0.75) 16/0.09

RR: 0.39

(0.26, 0.60)

(0.23, 0.68)

0/0.00 49.9 N 0.81 RR: 0.39 (0.26, 0.60) 2
Henderson 2019 [34] Treating asymptomatic bacteriuria Pyelonephritis 12 RR: 0.24 (0.14, 0.40) 56/0.40 2 RR: 0.29 (0.15, 0.57) 0/0.00

RR: 0.25

(0.16, 0.39)

(0.07, 0.87)

48/0.28 84.9 N 0.64 RR: 0.30 (0.23, 0.40) 3
Higgins 2016 [35] BCG Mortality 3 RR: 0.67 (0.40, 1.14) 58/0.11 8 RR: 0.46 (0.30, 0.69) 63/0.19

RR: 0.51

(0.36, 0.72)

(0.18, 1.46)

67/0.19 29.9 Y 0.25 RR: 0.57 (0.48, 0.68) 3
Higgins 2016 [35] Measles containing vaccines Mortality 4 RR: 0.74 (0.51, 1.07) 0/0.00 13 RR: 0.53 (0.40, 0.70) 67/0.14

RR: 0.57

(0.45, 0.72)

(0.27, 1.21)

58/0.11 19.6 Y 0.15 RR: 0.65 (0.57, 0.74) 3
Hopley 2010 [36] Total hip arthroplasty Reoperation 4 RR: 1.09 (0.40, 2.99) 30/0.31 6 RR: 0.45 (0.19, 1.08) 23/0.28

RR: 0.66

(0.33, 1.32)

(0.13, 3.42)

34/0.39 43.8 N 0.19 RR: 0.72 (0.43, 1.20) 2
Hopley 2010 [36] Total hip arthroplasty Dislocation 4 RR: 2.47 (0.69, 8.76) 0/0.00 5 RR: 0.79 (0.27, 2.35) 18/0.28

RR: 1.20

(0.52, 2.76)

(0.28, 5.08)

12/0.17 36.3 N 0.18 RR: 1.16 (0.54 2.52) 2
Hopley 2010 [36] Total hip arthroplasty Deep infection 4 RR: 1.71 (0.66, 4.45) 0/0.00 4 RR: 0.91 (0.25, 3.28) 0/0.00

RR: 1.37

(0.64, 2.94)

(0.50, 3.73)

0/0.00 64.1 N 0.44 RR: 1.37 (0.64, 2.94) 2
Hüpfl 2010 [37] Chest-compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation Survival 3 RR: 1.22 (1.01, 1.46) 0/0.00 7 RR: 0.96 (0.83, 1.11) 0/0.00

RR: 1.04

(0.92, 1.19)

(0.83, 1.31)

13/0.01 38.1 Y 0.05 RR: 1.05 (0.93, 1.18) 3
Jamal 2013 [38] Non-calcium-based phosphate binders Mortality 8 RR: 0.78 (0.62, 0.98) 43/0.03 3 RR: 0.89 (0.78, 1.00) 0/0.00

RR: 0.87

(0.77, 0.97)

(0.67, 1.12)

28/0.01 50.9 N 0.34 RR: 0.89 (0.82, 0.96) 2
Jefferson 2010 [39] Parenteral influenza vaccine Influenza-like illness 4 RR: 0.59 (0.47, 0.73) 0/0.00 30 RR: 0.76 (0.66, 0.87) 57/0.07

RR: 0.73

(0.64, 0.82)

(0.43, 1.22)

54/0.06 14.4 N 0.05 RR: 0.70 (0.65, 0.75) 3
Jefferson 2010 [39] Parenteral influenza vaccine Influenza 3 RR: 0.42 (0.27, 0.66) 0/0.00 10 RR: 0.51 (0.27, 0.97) 64/0.52

RR: 0.51 (0.32, 0.80)

(0.13, 2.02)

59/0.34 31.3 N 0.62 RR: 0.60 (0.47, 0.78) 2
Jefferson 2012 [40] Inactivated influenza vaccines Influenza 5 RR: 0.41 (0.29, 0.59) 36/0.08 1 RR: 0.20 (0.10, 0.39) NA

RR: 0.37

(0.26, 0.53)

(0.15, 0.92)

44/0.11 84.8 N 0.07 RR: 0.34 (0.27, 0.43) 2
Jefferson 2012 [40] Inactivated influenza vaccines Influenza-like illness 5 RR: 0.64 (0.54, 0.76) 67/0.02 2 RR: 0.29 (0.07, 1.15) 95/1.43

RR: 0.56

(0.46, 0.68)

(0.33, 0.94)

87/0.04 65.2 N 0.26 RR: 0.74 (0.71, 0.77) 2
Jin 2012 [41] High total flavonoids Colorectal neoplasms 1 RR: 1.09 (0.93, 1.28) NA 3 RR: 1.00 (0.80, 1.25) 66/0.02

RR: 1.03

(0.88, 1.20)

(0.56, 1.88)

56/0.01 30.4 N 0.55 RR: 1.02 (0.93, 1.13) 3
Kansagara 2013 [42] Transfusion Mortality 6 RR: 0.94 (0.62, 1.43) 17/0.05 11 RR: 2.49 (1.40, 4.43) 97/0.94

RR: 1.84

(1.10, 3.07)

(0.20, 16.54)

96/1.00 25.6 Y 0.007 RR: 3.32 (3.03, 3.65) 3
Keag 2018 [43] Caesarean section Urinary incontinence 1 OR: 0.78 (0.56, 1.08) NA 8 OR: 0.56 (0.48, 0.66) 70/0.04

OR: 0.58

(0.50, 0.68)

(0.36, 0.94)

68/0.04 10.0 Y 0.08 OR: 0.62 (0.57, 0.67) 3
Keag 2018 [43] Caesarean section Fecal incontinence 1 OR: 3.07 (0.90, 10.47) NA 5 OR: 1.04 (0.73, 1.48) 72/0.10

OR: 1.11

(0.78, 1.58)

(0.38, 3.26)

71/0.12 6.4 N 0.10 OR: 1.11 (0.94, 1.31) 3
Kredo 2014 [44] Antiretroviral therapy by nurses Mortality 1 RR: 0.96 (0.82, 1.12) NA 2 RR: 1.23 (1.14, 1.33) 0/0.00

RR: 1.13

(0.94, 1.36)

(0.13, 9.93)

76/0.02 35.3 N 0.004 RR: 1.17 (1.10, 1.26) 3
Kredo 2014 [44] Antiretroviral therapy by nurses Attrition 1 RR: 0.73 (0.55, 0.97) NA 2 RR: 0.30 (0.05, 1.94) 98/1.77

RR: 0.43

(0.21, 0.86)

(0.00, 2691.24)

95/0.35 34.4 N 0.35 RR: 0.75 (0.71, 0.79) 3
Kredo 2014 [44] Nurses for maintenance of antiretroviral therapy Mortality 2 RR: 0.89 (0.59, 1.32) 0/0.00 1 RR: 0.19 (0.05, 0.78) NA

RR: 0.61

(0.28, 1.35)

(0.00, 2756.46)

56/0.28 79.8 N 0.04 RR: 0.79 (0.54, 1.16) 3
Li 2014 [45] Exenatide Acute pancreatitis/admission for acute pancreatitis 5 RR: 0.86 (0.22, 3.39) 0/0.00 2 RR: 0.92 (0.69, 1.22) 0/0.00

RR: 0.92

(0.69, 1.22)

(0.64, 1.32)

0/0.00 4.0 N 0.92 RR: 0.92 (0.69, 1.21) 2
Li 2016 [46] DDP-4 inhibitors Heart failure 34 RR: 0.95 (0.60, 1.50) 0/0.00 4 RR: 1.10 (1.04, 1.17) 0/0.00

RR: 1.10

(1.04, 1.17)

(1.03, 1.16)

0/0.00 1.6 Y 0.53 RR: 1.10 (1.04, 1.17) 2
Li 2016 [46] DDP-4 Inhibitors Hospital admission for heart failure 5 OR: 1.13 (1.00, 1.27) 0/0.00 6 OR: 0.85 (0.74, 0.97) 33/0.01

OR: 0.94

(0.83, 1.08)

(0.66, 1.36)

55/0.02 41.9 N 0.002 OR: 0.97 (0.90, 1.05) 2
Matthews 2018 [47] Tamoxifen Heart failure 1 RR: 0.52 (0.33, 0.79) NA 2 RR: 0.85 (0.66, 1.09) 10/0.00

RR: 0.74

(0.53, 1.04)

(0.02, 29.27)

59/0.05 29.5 Y 0.05 RR: 0.75 (0.61, 0.92) 3
Menne 2019 [48] SGLT-2 inhibitors Acute kidney injury 41 OR: 0.75 (0.66, 0.84) 0/0.00 5 OR: 0.40 (0.31, 0.52) 39/0.03

OR: 0.58

(0.49, 0.69)

(0.41, 0.99)

27/0.05 63.1 N <0.0001 OR: 0.62 (0.56, 0.68) 2
Mesgarpour 2017 [49] Erythropoiesis stimulating agents Venous thromboembolism 12

RR: 1.12

(0.90, 1.40)

9/0.01 5

RR: 1.92

(0.64, 5.76)

75/1.03

RR: 1.26

(0.76, 2.10)

(0.20, 8.14)

84/0.70 71.6 N 0.35

RR: 1.71

(1.45, 2.01)

2
Mesgarpour 2017 [49] Erythropoiesis stimulating agents Mortality 17

RR: 0.82

(0.71, 0.93)

0/0.00 7

RR: 1.08

(0.66, 1.78)

91/0.35

RR: 0.88

(0.64, 1.21)

(0.21, 3.71)

92/0.46 66.5 Y 0.28

RR: 2.20

(2.15, 2.25)

2
Moberley 2013 [50] Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines Invasive pneumococcal disease 10

OR: 0.26

(0.14, 0.45)

0/0.00 2

OR: 0.57

(0.36, 0.89)

0/0.00

OR: 0.40

(0.26, 0.61)

(0.18, 0.85)

12/0.07 48.1 N 0.03

OR: 0.42

(0.29, 0.59)

2
Molnar 2015 [51] Neoral (cyclosporine) Acute rejection of kidney transplant 2

OR: 1.25

(0.61, 2.56)

9/0.03 2

OR: 0.46

(0.25, 0.86)

5/0.02

OR: 0.74

(0.36, 1.54)

(0.04, 12.62)

56/0.29 49.6 N 0.04 OR: 0.71 (0.46, 1.10) 2
Navarese 2013 [52] Early intervention for NSTE-ACS Mortality 7 OR: 0.83 (0.64, 1.09) 0/0.00 4 OR: 0.80 (0.63, 1.02) 78/0.04

OR: 0.82

(0.69, 0.97)

(0.54, 1.24)

45/0.03 25.2 Y 0.86 OR: 0.86 (0.80, 0.94) 2
Navarese 2013 [52] Early intervention for NSTE-ACS Myocardial infarction 7 OR: 1.16 (0.67, 2.00) 81/0.41 3 OR: 0.86 (0.69, 1.08) 86/0.03

OR: 0.97

(0.77, 1.22)

(0.48, 1.94)

81/0.08 50.6 N 0.32 OR: 0.90 (0.83, 0.97) 2
Navarese 2013 [52] Early intervention for NSTE-ACS Major bleeding 7 OR: 0.76 (0.56, 1.04) 0/0.00 3 OR: 1.12 (0.69, 1.82) 92/0.17

OR: 0.92

(0.68, 1.24)

(0.39, 2.15)

70/0.11 43.7 N 0.19 OR: 1.00 (0.88, 1.13) 2
Nelson 2010 [53] Caesarean section Anal incontinence, feces 1 OR: 1.00 (0.49, 2.05) NA 12 OR: 0.91 (0.72, 1.16) 0/0.00

OR: 0.92

(0.74, 1.16)

(0.72, 1.19)

0/0.00 10.0 N 0.81 OR: 0.92 (0.74, 1.16) 3
Nelson 2010 [53] Caesarean section Anal incontinence, flatus 1 OR: 0.83 (0.51, 1.36) NA 4 OR: 1.02 (0.87, 1.20) 0/0.00

OR: 1.00

(0.86, 1.16)

(0.78, 1.28)

0/0.00 9.7 N 0.44 OR: 1.00 (0.86, 1.16) 3
Nieuwenhuijse 2014 [54] Ceramic-on-ceramic bearings for total hip arthroplasty Harris Hip Score 7 MD: −0.23 (−1.09, 0.63) 24/0.31 3 MD: −0.50 (−2.09, 1.09) 62/1.08

MD: −0.29 (−0.96, 0.38)

(−1.81, 1.22)

32/0.31 59.3 N 0.77 MD: −0.20 (−0.66, 0.26) 2
Nieuwenhuijse 2014 [54] High-flexion total knee arthroplasty Flexion (degrees) 20 MD: 1.68 (0.28, 3.08) 45/3.83 26 MD: 3.78 (1.64, 5.92) 78/19.12

MD: 2.91 (1.56, 4.27)

(-4.42, 10.25)

73/12.7 46.8 N 0.11 MD: 2.49 (1.84, 3.14) 2
Nieuwenhuijse 2014 [54] Gender-specific total knee arthroplasty Flexion-extension range (degrees) 6 MD: 1.40 (−0.18, 2.99) 5/0.23 2 MD: 3.15 (−0.03, 6.34) 29/1.58

MD: 1.80 (0.40, 3.21)

(−0.53, 4.14)

9/0.40 74.4 Y 0.33 MD: 1.85 (0.54, 3.16) 2
Nikooie 2019 [55] Second-generation antipsychotics Sedation 6 RR: 1.26 (0.92, 1.72) 0/0.00 3 RR: 1.84 (0.40, 8.54) 34/0.84

RR: 1.29

(0.95, 1.74)

(0.91, 1.83)

0/0.00 94.0 N 0.63 RR: 1.29 (0.95, 1.74) 2
Nikooie 2019 [55] Second-generation antipsychotics Neurologic outcomes 6 RR: 0.45 (0.20, 1.01) 0/0.00 5 RR: 0.76 (0.59, 0.99) 0/0.00

RR: 0.73

(0.57, 0.93)

(0.56, 0.95)

0/0.00 9.0 Y 0.22 RR: 0.73 (0.57, 0.93) 2
Ochen 2019 [56] Surgery for Achilles tendon rupture Re-rupture 10 RR: 0.40 (0.24, 0.69) 0/0.00 18 RR: 0.42 (0.28, 0.65) 30/0.19

RR: 0.43

(0.31, 0.60)

(0.20, 0.96)

21/0.12 30.4 N 0.90 RR: 0.65 (0.54, 0.79) 2
Ochen 2019 [56] Surgery for Achilles tendon rupture Complications 9 RR: 3.13 (1.33, 7.38) 68/1.04 15 RR: 2.93 (2.28, 3.75) 0/0.00

RR: 2.72

(1.84, 4.02)

(0.84, 8.82)

41/0.28 42.2 N 0.88 RR: 2.63 (2.13, 3.27) 2
Pittas 2010 [57] High vitamin D Hypertension 1 RR: 1.01 (0.96, 1.06) NA 3 RR: 0.57 (0.41, 0.79) 0/0.00

RR: 0.68

(0.43, 1.07)

(0.10, 4.51)

77/0.14 38.2 N 0.0006 RR: 1.00 (0.95, 1.05) 3
Raman 2013 [58] Carotid endarterectomy Ipsilateral stroke 3 RR: 0.72 (0.58, 0.90) 0/0.00 2 RR: 0.47 (0.05, 4.46) 83/2.19

RR: 0.70

(0.51, 0.97)

(0.29, 1.69)

38/0.05 88.1 N 0.71 RR: 0.72 (0.58, 0.89) 2
Raman 2013 [58] Carotid endarterectomy Any stroke 3 RR: 0.68 (0.56, 0.82) 18/0.01 3 RR: 0.73 (0.43, 1.22) 0/0.00

RR: 0.67

(0.57, 0.79)

(0.53, 0.84)

0/0.00 90.3 N 0.79 RR: 0.67 (0.57, 0.79) 2
Raman 2013 [58] Carotid artery stenting Periprocedural stroke 2 RR: 1.75 (0.87, 3.52) 0/0.00 5 RR: 1.91 (1.72, 2.11) 7/0.00

RR: 1.91

(1.74, 2.10)

(1.69, 2.16)

0/0.00 1.8 Y 0.81 RR: 1.91 (1.74, 2.10) 2
Schweizer 2013 [59] Nasal deconolization Surgical site infection 5 RR: 0.63 (0.36, 1.12) 49/0.20 6 RR: 0.40 (0.28, 0.57) 0/0.00

RR: 0.48

(0.33, 0.69)

(0.18, 1.26)

44/0.15 47.6 Y 0.19 RR: 0.54 (0.42, 0.69) 2
Schweizer 2013 [59] Glycopeptide prophylaxis Surgical site infection 8 RR: 1.13 (0.90, 1.42) 0/0.00 7 RR: 0.35 (0.12, 1.03) 80/1.44

RR: 0.71

(0.48, 1.05)

(0.22, 2.27)

62/0.25 61.5 N 0.04 RR: 1.04 (0.66, 1.24) 2
Silvain 2012 [60] Enoxaparin Mortality 6 RR: 0.88 (0.70, 1.10) 0/0.00 7 RR: 0.50 (0.40, 0.62) 0/0.00

RR: 0.64

(0.49, 0.82)

(0.32, 1.26)

46/0.08 51.1 Y 0.0004 RR: 0.66 (0.56, 0.77) 2
Silvain 2012 [60] Enoxaparin Major bleeding 9 RR: 0.88 (0.62, 1.24) 53/0.12 7 RR: 0.72 (0.56, 0.93) 0/0.00

RR: 0.81

(0.66, 1.00)

(0.49, 1.37)

30/0.05 57.5 N 0.37 RR: 0.84 (0.72, 0.98) 2
Silvain 2012 [60] Enoxaparin Death or myocardial infarction 13 RR: 0.86 (0.74, 0.99) 21/0.01 7 RR: 0.44 (0.35, 0.55) 0/0.00

RR: 0.67

(0.55, 0.81)

(0.37, 1.21)

58/0.07 65.7 N <0.00001 RR: 0.77 (0.71, 0.85) 2
Suthar 2012 [61] Antiretroviral therapy Tuberculosis infection 2 HR: 0.50 (0.34, 0.75) 0/0.00 9 HR: 0.32 (0.25, 0.41) 27/0.03

HR: 0.35

(0.29, 0.44)

(0.22, 0.57)

26/0.03 21.1 N 0.07 HR: 0.37 (0.31, 0.44) 3
Te Morenga 2013 [62] High sugar intake Weight gain (kg) 10

MD: 0.74

(0.30, 1.19)

82/0.34 4

MD: 0.31

(−0.07, 0.68)

99/0.14

MD: 0.51

(0.26, 0.75)

(−0.36, 1.37)

99/0.14 58.0 N 0.14

MD: 0.59

(0.58, 0.60)

2
Te Morenga 2013 [62] High sugar intake BMI (kg/m2) 3

MD: −0.06

(−0.15, 0.04)

0/0.00 4

MD: −0.02

(−0.05, 0.00)

74/0.00

MD: −0.02

(−0.05, −0.00)

(−0.05, 0.09)

58/0.00 5.0 N 0.42

MD: −0.01

(−0.03, −0.00)

2
Thomas 2010 [63] Influenza vaccines Influenza-like illness 3

RR: 0.71

(0.55, 0.90)

45/0.02 1

RR: 0.31

(0.26, 0.36)

NA

RR: 0.53

(0.31, 0.89)

(0.08, 3.48)

94/0.28 75.5 N <0.00001

RR: 0.48

(0.43, 0.53)

3
Tickell-Painter 2017 [64] Mefloquine Discontinuation due to adverse effects 3 RR: 2.86 (1.53, 5.31) 0/0.00 9 RR: 2.73 (1.84, 4.06) 31/0.11

RR: 2.78

(2.05, 3.77)

(1.57, 4.91)

15/0.04 20.8 N 0.91 RR: 2.85 (2.19, 3.71) 2
Tickell-Painter 2017 [64] Mefloquine Serious adverse events or effects 3 RR: 0.68 (0.11, 4.27) 0/0.00 2 RR: 3.09 (0.38, 24.95) 0/0.00

RR: 1.31

(0.33, 5.23)

(0.14, 12.39)

0/0.00 56.3 N 0.29 RR: 1.31 (0.33, 5.23) 3
Tickell-Painter 2017 [64] Mefloquine Nausea 2 RR: 1.34 (1.04, 1.71) 0/0.00 3 RR: 1.86 (1.42, 2.42) 0/0.00

RR: 1.56

(1.30, 1.87)

(1.16, 2.09)

0/0.00 53.7 N 0.08 RR: 1.56 (1.30, 1.87) 3
Tricco 2018 [65] Live-attenuated zoster vaccines Suspected Herpes Zoster 5 RR: 0.60 (0.54, 0.66) 0/0.00 3 RR: 0.48 (0.27, 0.83) 99/0.24

RR: 0.55

(0.40, 0.77)

(0.20, 1.52)

97/0.14 43.4 N 0.44 RR: 0.72 (0.70, 0.74) 2
Vinceti 2018 [66] Selenium Any cancer 5 RR: 0.99 (0.86, 1.14) 46/0.01 7 RR: 0.72 (0.55, 0.93) 46/0.06

RR: 0.86

(0.73, 1.01)

(0.52, 1.42)

64/0.04 54.3 N 0.03 RR: 0.94 (0.88, 1.01) 3
Vinceti 2018 [66] Selenium Cancer mortality 2 RR: 0.81 (0.49, 1.32) 79/0.10 7 RR: 0.76 (0.59, 0.97) 66/0.07

RR: 0.78

(0.64, 0.95)

(0.44, 1.39)

65/0.05 26.8 Y 0.83 RR: 0.88 (0.80, 0.96) 3
Vinceti 2018 [66] Selenium Colorectal cancer 3 RR: 0.74 (0.41, 1.33) 48/0.13 6 RR: 0.82 (0.72, 0.94) 0/0.00

RR: 0.83

(0.74, 0.94)

(0.73, 0.95)

0/0.00 14.4 Y 0.72 RR: 0.83 (0.74, 0.94) 3
Wilson 2011 [67] Training for traditional birth attendants/assistance by traditional birth attendants Perinatal mortality 5 RR: 0.77 (0.66, 0.89) 62/0.02 1 RR: 0.82 (0.38, 1.78) NA

RR: 0.77

(0.67, 0.89)

(0.53, 1.13)

52/0.01 97.0 N 0.87 RR: 0.79 (0.73, 0.86) 3
Wilson 2011 [67] Training for traditional birth attendants/assistance by traditional birth attendants Neonatal mortality 6 RR: 0.80 (0.71, 0.90) 37/0.01 2 RR: 0.80 (0.47, 1.37) 0/0.00

RR: 0.80

(0.73, 0.88)

(0.67, 0.95)

14.0/0.00 97.0 N 0.99 RR: 0.80 (0.74, 0.87) 3
Wilson 2019 [68] Unilateral knee arthroplasty Venous thromboembolism 2 RR: 0.24 (0.04, 1.37) 0/0.00 8 RR: 0.42 (0.30, 0.57) 24/0.04

RR: 0.43

(0.33, 0.55)

(0.29, 0.64)

8/0.01 1.9 Y 0.53 RR: 0.45 (0.37, 0.54) 2
Wilson 2019 [68] Unilateral knee arthroplasty Range of movement (degrees) 3 MD: −4.58 (−10.75, 1.59) 95/27.67 11 MD: −8.43 (−10.15, −6.71) 86/6.20

MD: −7.60

(−9.27, −5.93)

(−13.98, −1.22)

91/7.85 22.2 Y 0.24 MD: −8.29 (−8.63, −7.95) 2
Wilson 2019 [68] Unilateral knee arthroplasty Operation duration (minutes) 3 MD: −1.72 (−11.89, 8.45) 90/71.69 8 MD: −23.80 (−40.43, −7.17) 99/491.19

MD: −17.07 (−29.11, −5.04)

(−63.37, 29.23)

98/365.45 30.2 Y <0.00001 MD: −11.25 (−12.71, −9.97) 2
Yank 2011 [69] Recombinant factor VII Mortality 2 RR: 1.40 (0.49, 4.02) 0/0.00 2 RR: 0.91 (0.39, 2.12) 0/0.00

RR: 1.08

(0.56, 2.09)

(0.25, 4.59)

0/0.00 39.4 N 0.53 RR: 1.08 (0.56, 2.09) 2
Yank 2011 [69] Recombinant factor VII Thromboembolic events 2 RR: 2.04 (0.51, 8.20) 8/0.08 2 RR: 1.81 (0.67, 4.87) 0/0.00

RR: 1.88

(0.85, 4.16)

(0.33, 10.76)

0/0.00 35.5 N 0.89 RR: 1.88 (0.85, 4.16) 2
Zhang 2016 [70] Everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold Stent thrombosis 5 OR: 1.97 (0.90, 4.29) 0/0.00 3 OR: 2.22 (1.00, 4.93) 0/0.00

OR: 2.09

(1.20, 3.64)

(1.04, 4.18)

0/0.00 51.1 Y 0.83 OR: 2.09 (1.20, 3.64) 2
Zhang 2016 [70] Everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold Mortality 5 OR: 0.71 (0.17, 3.01) 45/1.16 4 OR: 0.63 (0.24, 1.63) 0/0.00

OR: 0.73

(0.34, 1.57)

(0.18, 2.97)

15/0.20 51.7 N 0.89 OR: 0.82 (0.42, 1.60) 2
Zhang 2016 [70] Everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold Cardiac death 3 OR: 1.39 (0.17, 11.14) 44/1.48 4 OR: 0.94 (0.43, 2.06) 0/0.00

OR: 1.05 (0.53, 2.12)

(0.42, 2.63)

0/0.00 21.4 N 0.73 OR: 1.05 (0.53, 2.12) 2
Zhang 2017 [71] Percutaneous coronary intervention Mortality 5 HR: 1.00 (0.79, 1.26) 22/0.02 17 HR: 1.07 (0.92, 1.26) 37/0.03

HR: 1.05

(0.93, 1.20)

(0.73, 1.52)

32/0.03 25.6 N 0.59 HR: 1.08 (0.98, 1.19) 2
Zhang 2017 [71] Percutaneous coronary intervention Cardiovascular mortality 4 HR: 0.99 (0.71, 1.39) 21/0.02 5 HR: 1.08 (0.51, 2.28) 78/0.49

HR: 1.05 (0.69, 1.59)

(0.29, 3.81)

72/0.25 51.2 N 0.85 HR: 1.33 (1.09, 1.62) 2
Zhang 2017 [71] Percutaneous coronary intervention Myocardial infarction 5 HR: 1.39 (0.86, 2.26) 57/0.16 5 HR: 2.00 (1.65, 2.44) 0/0.00

HR: 1.69

(1.22, 2.33)

(0.71, 4.03)

57/0.12 53.7 Y 0.17 HR: 1.66 (1.42, 1.94) 2
Ziff 2015 [72] Digoxin Mortality 7 RR: 0.99 (0.93, 1.05) 0/0.00 8 RR: 1.60 (1.31, 1.96) 63/0.05

RR: 1.38

(1.15, 1.66)

(0.77, 2.49)

75/0.06 30.2 Y <0.00001 RR: 1.08 (1.03, 1.14) 3
Ziff 2015 [72] Digoxin Cardiovascular mortality 5 RR: 1.01 (0.94, 1.09) 0/0.00 3 RR: 2.53 (1.12, 5.70) 96/0.48

RR: 1.71

(1.04, 2.80)

(0.26, 11.38)

96/0.29 41.9 Y 0.03 RR: 1.15 (1.08, 1.22) 3
Ziff 2015 [72] Digoxin Hospital admission 2 RR: 0.96 (0.87, 1.05) 65/0.00 4 RR: 0.92 (0.85, 0.99) 64/0.00

RR: 0.93

(0.88, 0.98)

(0.80, 1.09)

61/0.00 37.8 Y 0.49 RR: 0.92 (0.89, 0.95) 2

*PI/ECO similarity degree: 1=more or less identical; 2=similar but not identical; 3=broadly similar

BCG Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, BMI Body mass index, BoE Bodies of evidence, CE Common effects, CI Confidence interval, CRC Colorectal cancer, CS Cohort studies, DDP 4 Dipeptidylpeptidase-4, HIV Human immunodeficiency virus, HR Hazard ratio, MD Mean difference, N No, NA Not applicable, NSTE-ACS Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes, OR Odds ratio, PI/ECO Population–intervention/exposure–comparator–outcome, RCT Randomized controlled trial, RE Random effects, RR Risk ratio, SGLT-2 Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2, Y Yes