Comparison 7. Subgroup analysis: high‐income countries versus low‐ and middle‐income countries for the comparison of corticosteroids plus standard care versus standard care (plus/minus placebo) for hospitalised individuals with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of symptomatic COVID‐19.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
7.1 All‐cause mortality up to 30 days	9	7898	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.84, 0.97]
7.1.1 High‐income countries	5	7047	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.81, 0.97]
7.1.2 Low‐ and middle‐income countries	4	851	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.82, 1.09]
7.2 All‐cause mortality up to 120 days	3	485	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.20, 2.75]
7.2.1 High‐income countries	1	30	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.62 [0.63, 10.98]
7.2.2 Low‐ and middle‐income countries	2	455	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.42 [0.06, 3.04]
7.3 Clinical improvement: discharged alive	3	6786	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.07 [1.03, 1.11]
7.3.1 High‐income country	1	6425	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.06 [1.02, 1.10]
7.3.2 Low‐ and middle‐income country	2	361	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.65 [1.23, 2.21]