Interventions to facilitate return to work in adults with chronic non-malignant pain: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

IntroductionWork absenteeism due to chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP) is a major societal and individual cause of concern that requires effective treatments.ObjectiveWe present a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aiming to compare available interventions for return to work (RTW) in adults with CNMP.Methods and analysisPubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases will be searched till 31 August 2020 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining interventions for RTW outcomes among patients with CNMP. Two independent investigators will search the databases, perform data extraction and assess the methodological quality of the selected RCTs. The primary outcome will be RTW, if possible, full-time or part-time after work absence due to chronic pain from baseline to the last available follow-up. Secondary outcomes will include self-reported workability or work capacity, or self-reported physical functioning and quality of life as measured by any validated scale. Pairwise meta-analysis and NMA will be conducted for each outcome using a random-effects model. For the primary outcomes, we will also obtain the ranking of all competing interventions within each NMA using surface under the cumulative ranking curve. The assumption of coherence (ie, that direct and indirect evidence are in statistical agreement) will be examined using both a local and a global approach. We will also conduct subgroup and meta-regression analyses, whenever feasible, to investigate the unexplained variation in effect size. The comparison-adjusted funnel plot will be used to evaluate small-study effects. The overall quality of evidence will be rated with the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis tool. Data analysis will be conducted using Stata V.16.0.Ethics and disseminationThis systematic review does not require ethical approval since it will not disseminate any private patient data. The results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020171429.

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Relationship between hormonal contraceptives and sleep among women of reproductive age: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045819 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e045819

Author(s):

Jinhui Ma ◽

Megan Cheng ◽

Lehana Thabane ◽

Caihong Ma ◽

Ning Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Research Question ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Hormonal Contraceptives ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Women Of Reproductive Age

IntroductionThe aetiology of sleep disruptions is unknown, but hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause have been shown to potentially affect how well a woman sleeps. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether hormonal contraceptives are associated with a decreased quality of sleep and increased sleep duration in women of reproductive age.MethodsThis review will analyse data from randomised controlled trials or non-randomised comparative studies investigating the association between hormonal contraceptives and sleep outcomes among women of reproductive age. Reviews addressing the same research question with similar eligibility criteria will be included. A literature search will be performed using the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from inception to 7 March 2021. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias for Randomised Trials V.2.0 and The Risk of Bias for Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool will be used to assess risk of bias for each outcome in eligible studies. Two reviewers will independently assess eligibility of studies and risk of bias and extract the data. All extracted data will be presented in tables and narrative form. For sleep measures investigated by two or more studies with low heterogeneity, we will conduct random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the magnitude of the overall effect of hormonal contraceptives. If studies included in this systematic review form a connected network, a network meta-analysis will be conducted to estimate the comparative effect of different contraceptives. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach will be used to summarise the quality of evidence. Our protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Protocols 2015 guidelines.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required as data were sourced from previously reported studies. The findings of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020199958.

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Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of respiratory rehabilitation following intensive care unit discharge for COVID-19 survivors

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041184 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e041184

Author(s):

Dan Wang ◽

Jin Li ◽

Feilong Zhu ◽

Qianqin Hong ◽

Ming Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

The Impact ◽

Respiratory Rehabilitation

IntroductionBoth physical and mental disorders may be exacerbated in patients with COVID-19 due to the experience of receiving intensive care; undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation, sedation, proning and paralysis. Pulmonary rehabilitation is aimed to improve dyspnoea, relieve anxiety and depression, reduce the incidence of related complications, as well as prevent and improve dysfunction. However, the impact of respiratory rehabilitation on discharged patients with COVID-19 is currently unclear, especially on patients who have been mechanically ventilated over 24 hours. Therefore, we aim to investigate the efficacy of respiratory rehabilitation programmes, initiated after discharge from the intensive care unit, on the physical and mental health and health-related quality of life in critical patients with COVID-19.Methods and analysisWe have registered the protocol on PROSPERO and in the process of drafting it, we strictly followed the checklist of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Potocols. We will search the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, VIP information databases and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Additionally, ongoing trials in the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov and ISRCTN registry will be searched as well. Studies in English or Chinese and from any country will be accepted regardless of study design. Two review authors will independently extract data and assess the quality of included studies. Continuous data are described as standard mean differences (SMDs) with 95% CIs. Dichotomous data from randomised controlled trials are described as risk ratio(RR) with 95% CIs; otherwise, it is described as odds ratio(OR) with 95% CIs. I2 and the Cochrane’s Q statistic will be used to conduct heterogeneity assessment. The quality of evidence of main outcomes will be evaluated according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation(GRADE) criteria. When included studies are sufficient, we will conduct subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis; the publication bias will be statistically analysed using a funnel plot analysis and Egger’s test.Ethics and disseminationOur review, planning to include published studies, does not need the request to the ethical committee. The final results of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal after completion.Patient and public involvementNo patient involved.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020186791.

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Buteyko method for people with asthma: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049213 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e049213

Author(s):

Karla Morganna Pereira Pinto de Mendonça ◽

Sean Collins ◽

Tácito ZM Santos ◽

Gabriela Chaves ◽

Sarah Leite ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Plain Language ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Meta Analyses

IntroductionButeyko method is recommended as a non-pharmacological treatment for people with asthma. Although the worldwide interest in the Buteyko method, there is a paucity of studies gathering evidence to support its use. Therefore, we aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of the Buteyko method in children and adults with asthma.Methods and analysisWe will search on Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for studies focusing on the Buteyko method for children and adults with asthma. The searches will be carried out in September 2021 from database’s inception to the present. We will include randomised controlled trials comparing Buteyko method alone with asthma education or inactive control intervention. There will be no restriction on language. Primary outcomes include quality of life, asthma symptoms and adverse events/side effects. Two review authors will independently screen the studies for inclusion and extract data. We will assess the quality of the included studies using the ‘Risk of Bias’ tool. The certainty of the evidence will be assessed using the GRADE approach. Data synthesis will be conducted using Review Manager software. Reporting of the review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.Ethics and disseminationThis study will assess and provide evidence for the use of the Buteyko method in people with asthma. We will analyse secondary data and this does not require ethics approval. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals, at relevant conferences and will be shared in plain language in social media. Moreover, the findings of this review could guide the direction of healthcare practice and research.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020193132.

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Quality of the reporting of exercise interventions in solid organ transplant recipients: a systematic review

McGill Journal of Medicine ◽

10.26443/mjm.v19i1.219 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Uma Raje ◽

Tyler M Saumur ◽

Fernanda Pesce de Souza ◽

Sunita Mathur ◽

Tania Janaudis-Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Solid Organ Transplant ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Exercise Interventions

Background:Exercise training programs must be described in detail to facilitate replication and implementation. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of exercise training program description in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Methods: We evaluated 21 RCTs reporting on exercise interventions in SOT recipients that were included in a recent systematic review/meta-analysis conducted by the research team. This previous review investigated the effects of exercise training (versus no training) in adult SOT recipients. Several databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched from inception to May 2019. Three reviewers independently rated the exercise programs for SOT using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT). Results: Mean score of the CERT was 6/19. None of the RCTs described all items of the CERT. Items of crucial importance, such as adherence, whether the exercise was done individually or in a group, whether there were home program or non-exercise components, and the type and number of adverse events, were either not mentioned or not described in detail. Conclusion: RCTs in exercise in SOT recipients did not satisfactorily report their exercise protocols, which can lead to difficulties in replication by researchers and implementation by clinicians.

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Dropout associated with osteopathic manual treatment for chronic noncancerous pain in randomized controlled trials

Journal of Osteopathic Medicine ◽

10.1515/jom-2020-0240 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Yasir Rehman ◽

Hannah Ferguson ◽

Adelina Bozek ◽

Joshua Blair ◽

Ashley Allison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Pooled Analysis ◽

Combination Group ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Manual Treatment

Abstract Context Reviews exploring harm outcomes such as adverse effects (AE), all-cause dropouts (ACD), dropouts due to inefficacy, and dropouts due to AE associated with osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) or osteopathic manual therapy (OMTh) are scant. Objectives To explore the overall AE, ACD, dropouts due to inefficacy, and AE in chronic noncancerous pain (CNCP) patients receiving OMTh through a systematic review of previous literature. Methods For this systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), EMCare, and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), and Ostmed.Dr, as well as the bibliographical references of previous systematic reviews evaluating OMTh for pain severity, disability, quality of life, and return to work outcomes. Randomized controlled trials with CNCP patients 18 years or older with OMTh as an active or combination intervention and the presence of a control or combination group were eligible for inclusion. In this sub-study of a previous, larger systematic review, 11 studies (n=1,015) reported data that allowed the authors to perform meta-analyses on ACD and dropouts due to AE. The risk of bias (ROB) was assessed with the Cochrane ROB tool and the quality of evidence was determined with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results The pooled analysis showed that ACD was not significantly different for visceral OMTh (vOMTh) vs. OMTh control (odds ratio [OR]=2.66 [95% confidence interval [[CI]], 0.28, 24.93]) or for OMTh vs. standard care (OR=1.26 [95% CI, 0.84, 1.89]; I2=0%). Single study analysis showed that OMTh results were nonsignificant in comparison with chemonucleolysis, gabapentin, and exercise. OMTh in combination with gabapentin (vs. gabapentin alone) and OMTh in combination with exercise (vs. exercise alone) showed nonsignificant ACD. Dropouts due to AE were not significantly different, but the results could not be pooled due to an insufficient number of studies. Conclusions Most articles did not explicitly report AEs, ACD rates, or dropouts due to AEs and inefficacy. The limited data available on dropouts showed that OMTh was well tolerated compared with control interventions, and that the ACD and dropouts due to AEs were not significantly different than comparators. Future trials should focus on explicit reporting of dropouts along with beneficial outcomes to provide a better understanding of OMTh efficacy.

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Local anaesthetics combined with vasoconstrictors in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing dental procedures: systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044357 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e044357

Author(s):

Caio Chaves Guimaraes ◽

Luciane Cruz Lopes ◽

Cristiane de Cássia Bergamaschi ◽

Juliana Cama Ramacciato ◽

Marcus Tolentino Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Local Anaesthetics ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Quality Of Evidence ◽

Dental Procedures

ObjectivesThere is a lack of evidence about the use of local anaesthetics (LAs) in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in dental procedures. Thus, this study evaluated the safety of using LA with vasoconstrictor to determine the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with CVD.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsWe have searched in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (via Ovid), EMBASE (via Ovid), Healthstar (via Ovid), CINAHL, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) up to January 2020. We have included RCTs involving adults with CVD within two groups: intervention group with LA with vasoconstrictor and control group with LA without vasoconstrictor. The primary outcomes assessed were death, mortality by a specific cause, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, hospitalisation, pain, bleeding and arrhythmias. The secondary outcomes were ST segment depression, anxiety, adverse effects and changes in haemodynamic parameters. The data were pooled using random effects meta-analyses and the confidence in the estimates was verified using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).ResultsTen RCTs (n=478 participants) were included. Most of them had a high risk of bias. There were more cases of pain and bleeding in groups without vasoconstrictor. Meta-analysis demonstrated a decrease in the systolic blood pressure with the use of LA with vasoconstrictor (standard mean difference −0.95, 95% CI −1.35 to −0.55) after procedure. Overall, for the other outcomes assessed there was no statistical difference. The quality of evidence was considered low according to the GRADE profile.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the use of LA with vasoconstrictors (epinephrine in low doses) is safe in patients with some types of CVD. However, the low quality of evidence demonstrated that literature needs further studies in order to confirm these results.Protocol registrationPROSPERO (CRD42016045421).

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Acupuncture for breathlessness in advanced cancer: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054917 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. e054917

Author(s):

Zihan Yin ◽

Tao Xu ◽

Mingsheng Sun ◽

Ling Zhao ◽

Fanrong Liang

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Sequential Analysis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Trial Sequential Analysis ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register

IntroductionBreathlessness in advanced cancer, a frequent multicomponent and debilitating disorder, severely reduces function and quality of patients’ life. Multiple studies have shown that non-pharmacological therapies can effectively palliate breathlessness in advanced cancer. However, no systematic review has investigated the application of acupuncture, as a non-pharmacological treatment, for breathlessness in advanced cancer. A systematic review will be conducted to summarise evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as a therapeutic option for breathlessness in advanced cancer based on existing randomised controlled trials (RCTs).MethodsRCTs will be retrieved from nine scientific databases, including the MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science via the Web of Knowledge, Embase via Ovid, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials via the Cochrane Library, and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database via EBSCO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database; three clinical registry platforms, including the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, NIH Clinical trials.gov and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, as well as from other sources. Studies published since inception of these databases to 1 August 2021 will be retrieved. Search terms will include breathlessness, cancer, acupuncture and RCT. Two investigators will independently select and extract data from RCTs and assess the risk of bias. The primary outcome, which is alleviation of breathlessness, will be assessed. Meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan V.5.4 and STATA V.15.0. The TSA 0.9.5.10 β software will be used to conduct trial sequential analysis. Finally, the quality of evidence from RCTs will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation System tool.Ethics and disseminationResults will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals or conference reports. Since this study involves acquisition of secondary data, ethical approval requirements will be waived.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021240085.

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Effect of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamics in patients undergoing hysterectomy: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/03000605211039809 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (8) ◽

pp. 030006052110398

Author(s):

Zhaoqiu Li ◽

Cuiping Li ◽

Maoxian Zhang

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

English Language ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Cardiovascular Stress ◽

Central Register ◽

Indirect Comparisons

Objective We conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the hemodynamics of patients undergoing hysterectomy. Methods We searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that allowed direct or indirect comparisons of hemodynamic indicators. We also searched nine English-language databases up to April 2021 to identify relevant research. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs was applied to assess the methodological quality of the eligible studies. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. Results Nine trials were included in this systematic review. The effect of dexmedetomidine on heart rate during surgery was significantly smaller than that of other sedatives. Intraoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were more stable in the dexmedetomidine group compared with the control group. The postoperative modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness Score was also better in the dexmedetomidine compared with the control group. Conclusions Dexmedetomidine increases hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing hysterectomy, reduces the cardiovascular stress response during surgery, and effectively prevents postoperative adverse reactions, with good safety.

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Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for stable angina: systematic review and meta-analysis

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2018-000989 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000989 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Linda Long ◽

Lindsey Anderson ◽

jingzhou He ◽

Manish Gandhi ◽

Alice Dewhirst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Exercise Capacity ◽

Stable Angina ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

The Impact ◽

Quality Evidence

ObjectiveA systematic review was undertaken to assess the effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for patients with stable angina.MethodsDatabases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL) were searched up to October 2017, without language restriction. Randomised trials comparing CR programmes with no exercise control in adults with stable angina were included. Where possible, study outcomes were pooled using meta-analysis. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation was used to assess the quality of evidence. The protocol was published on the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.ResultsSeven studies (581 patients), with a median of 12-month follow-up, were included. The effect of exercise-based CR on all-cause mortality (risk ratio (RR) 1.01, 95 % CI: 0.18 to 5.67), acute myocardial infarction (RR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.07 to 1.63) and cardiovascular-related hospital admissions (RR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02 to 1.1) relative to control were uncertain. We found low-quality evidence that exercise-based CR results in a moderate improvement in exercise capacity (standard mean difference 0.45, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.70). There was limited and very low-quality evidence for the effect of exercise-based CR on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), adverse events and costs. No data were identified on cost-effectiveness or return to work.ConclusionsExercise-based CR may improve the short-term exercise capacity of patients with stable angina pectoris. Well-designed randomised controlled trials are needed to definitely determine the impact of CR on outcomes including mortality, morbidity, HRQoL, and costs in the population of patients with stable angina receiving contemporary medical therapy.

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Adjuvant treatment of anogenital warts with systemic interferon: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2017-053150 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 21-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Lukas Westfechtel ◽

Ricardo Niklas Werner ◽

Corinna Dressler ◽

Matthew Gaskins ◽

Alexander Nast

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Low Dose ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Alpha Interferon ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Anogenital Warts ◽

Complete Clearance

BackgroundInterferons are natural messenger proteins that are used to treat various disease entities. Due to their immunomodulating, antiviral and antiproliferative effects, the systemic administration of interferons after ablative treatment for anogenital warts (AGWs) has been advocated to increase clearance and decrease recurrence rates. However, studies investigating the efficacy of adjuvant systemic interferon have yielded inconsistent results. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to comprehensively assess and evaluate the available evidence from randomised controlled trials.MethodsA literature search was conducted in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase and MEDLINE. Available data were classified according to the interferon type and dosage. Pooled effect estimates were calculated for predefined outcomes. The Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool was used to assess the included trials and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to evaluate our confidence in the effect estimates.ResultsTwelve trials were identified that met the inclusion criteria and assessed immunocompetent patients with external AGW. Compared with placebo, adjuvant alpha-, beta- and gamma-interferon were generally not significantly superior in terms of complete clearance over the short, intermediate or long term, nor with regard to intermediate- or long-term recurrence. However, the low-dose subgroup of adjuvant alpha-interferon was significantly superior compared with placebo regarding intermediate-term complete clearance and recurrence. Further data were available for the comparison of different dosages of alpha- and beta-interferon and for comparisons of the three interferon types. No significant differences were seen in these comparisons regarding efficacy. Data on quality of life were not available.ConclusionsThe GRADE quality of the evidence ranged from ‘very low’ to ‘high’. The significantly higher efficacy of low-dose alpha-interferon compared with placebo was based on a single trial, and our confidence in the effect estimates rated as ‘low’. Overall, we found no reliable evidence favouring the systemic use of interferon after ablative treatment of AGW.

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