Table 2.

Quality assessment of the included non-randomised controlled trials using the Methodological Index for Non-randomised Studies

Assessment	Efrati 2015 et al 39	Guggino et al 202034	Curtis et al 202132	Casal et al 201935	Bosco et al 201936	Atzeni et al 201937
1. A clearly stated aim	2	2	2	2	2	2
2. Inclusion of consecutive patients	2	2	2	2	2	2
3. Prospective collection of data	2	2	2	2	2	2
4. Endpoints appropriate to the aim of the study	2	2	2	2	2	2
5. Unbiased assessment of the study endpoint	2	0	1	1	0	0
6. Follow-up period appropriate to the aim of the study	0	0	2	0	2	0
7. Lost to follow-up less than 5%	0	0	2	0	0	0
8. Prospective calculation of the study size	2	2	0	0	0	2
9. An adequate control group	2	2	2	–	–	–
10. Contemporary groups	2	2	2	–	–	–
11. Baseline equivalence of groups	2	2	2	–	–	–
12. Adequate statistical analyses	2	2	2	–	–	–
Total score	20	18	21	9	10	10