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. 2023 Jan 23;2023(1):CD008986. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008986.pub4

Comparison 3. Subgroup analysis ‐ Trials comparing medication reviews with standard care.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
3.1 Mortality (all‐cause): trials of participants taking a mean of ≥ 10 different medications versus trials of participants taking a mean of < 10 different medications 15   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.93 [0.83, 1.03]
3.1.1 Study population taking a mean of ≥ 10 different medications 6   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.96 [0.82, 1.11]
3.1.2 Study population taking a mean of < 10 different medications 9   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.91 [0.77, 1.08]
3.2 Hospital readmissions (all‐cause): trials of participants taking a mean of ≥ 10 different medications versus trials of participants taking a mean of < 10 different medications 14   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.90, 0.99]
3.2.1 Study population taking a mean of ≥ 10 different medications 6   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.95 [0.89, 1.01]
3.2.2 Study population taking a mean of < 10 different medications 8   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.87, 1.01]
3.3 Hospital emergency department contacts (all‐cause): trials of participants taking a mean of ≥ 10 different medications versus trials of participants taking a mean of < 10 different medications 8 3527 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.84 [0.68, 1.03]
3.3.1 Study population taking a mean of ≥ 10 different medications 5 2948 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.97 [0.86, 1.10]
3.3.2 Study population taking a mean of < 10 different medications 3 579 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.59 [0.38, 0.94]
3.4 Mortality (all‐cause): trials with criteria‐based medication review versus trials with non‐criteria‐based medication review 18   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.96 [0.87, 1.05]
3.4.1 Criteria‐based medication review 6   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.97 [0.82, 1.15]
3.4.2 Non‐criteria‐based medication review 12   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.95 [0.84, 1.07]
3.5 Hospital readmissions (all‐cause): trials with criteria‐based medication review versus trials with non‐criteria‐based medication review 16   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.93 [0.89, 0.98]
3.5.1 Criteria‐based medication review 5   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.98 [0.91, 1.05]
3.5.2 Non‐criteria‐based medication review 11   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.91 [0.85, 0.96]
3.6 Hospital emergency department contacts (all‐cause): trials with criteria‐based medication review versus trials with non‐criteria‐based medication review 8 3527 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.84 [0.68, 1.03]
3.6.1 Criteria‐based medication review 1 118 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.60 [0.15, 2.40]
3.6.2 Non‐criteria‐based medication review 7 3409 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.84 [0.68, 1.04]
3.7 Mortality (all‐cause): trials with low implementation rate versus trials with high implementation rate 18   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.96 [0.87, 1.05]
3.7.1 Low implementation rate 5   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.04 [0.85, 1.27]
3.7.2 High implementation rate 13   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.93 [0.83, 1.04]
3.8 Hospital readmissions (all‐cause): trials with low implementation rate versus trials with high implementation rate 17   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.93 [0.89, 0.98]
3.8.1 Low implementation rate 5   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.97 [0.90, 1.05]
3.8.2 High implementation rate 12   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.91 [0.86, 0.96]
3.9 Hospital emergency department contacts (all‐cause): trials with low implementation rate versus trials with high implementation rate 8 3527 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.84 [0.68, 1.03]
3.9.1 Low implementation rate 2 206 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.50 [0.17, 1.49]
3.9.2 High implementation rate 6 3321 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.83, 1.05]
3.10 Mortality (all‐cause): trials with low risk of bias versus trials with high risk of bias 18   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.96 [0.87, 1.05]
3.10.1 Low risk of bias 12   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.01 [0.90, 1.12]
3.10.2 High risk of bias 6   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.82 [0.68, 0.99]
3.11 Hospital readmissions (all‐cause): trials with low risk of bias versus trials with high risk of bias 16   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.93 [0.89, 0.98]
3.11.1 Low risk of bias 11   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.95 [0.90, 1.00]
3.11.2 High risk of bias 5   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.88 [0.79, 0.97]
3.12 Hospital emergency department contacts (all‐cause): trials with low risk of bias versus trials with high risk of bias 8 3527 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.84 [0.68, 1.03]
3.12.1 Low risk of bias 5 3217 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.93 [0.83, 1.06]
3.12.2 High risk of bias 3 310 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.49 [0.25, 0.96]
3.13 Mortality (all‐cause): trials with extended medication reviews versus trials with basic medication reviews 18   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.96 [0.87, 1.05]
3.13.1 Extended medication review 11   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.93 [0.82, 1.06]
3.13.2 Basic medication review 10   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.02 [0.87, 1.21]
3.14 Hospital readmissions (all‐cause): trials with extended medication reviews versus trials with basic medication reviews 17   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.96 [0.92, 1.01]
3.14.1 Extended medication review 11   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.87, 1.02]
3.14.2 Basic medication review 9   Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.99 [0.92, 1.07]
3.15 Hospital emergency department contacts (all‐cause): trials with extended medication reviews versus trials with basic medication reviews 8 3527 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.87 [0.74, 1.02]
3.15.1 Extended medication review 5 1703 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.78 [0.60, 1.01]
3.15.2 Basic medication review 5 1824 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.84 [0.61, 1.15]