What do systematic reviews say?

Summary of findings table ‐ Repeat dose(s) of prenatal corticosteroids vs single course

• Repeat doses of prenatal corticosteroids for women at risk of preterm birth for improving neonatal health outcomes 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 1477 participants
  Low

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

High‐dose corticosteroids showed no clear difference in ambulation compared with moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.08 [0.81, 1.45]
  3 studies · 105 participants
  Low

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

High‐dose corticosteroids showed no clear difference in survival (long term) Over two years compared with moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.11 [0.24, 5.05]
  1 study · 57 participants
  Low

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

High‐dose corticosteroids showed no clear difference in pain reduction compared with moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.86 [0.62, 1.2]
  1 study · 25 participants
  Low

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

High‐dose corticosteroids showed no clear difference in urinary continence One week after treatment compared with moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.18 [0.66, 2.13]
  1 study · 34 participants
  Low

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

High‐dose corticosteroids probably leads to higher serious adverse events compared with moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 8.02 [1.03, 62.37]
  2 studies · 77 participants
  Moderate

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids vs no topical corticosteroids

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids may leads to lower low birth weight compared with no topical corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9
  55713 participants
  Low

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids vs no topical corticosteroids

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids may leads to lower preterm delivery compared with no topical corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.88
  55713 participants
  Low

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids vs no topical corticosteroids

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids may leads to lower foetal death compared with no topical corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.7
  48749 participants
  Low

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids vs no topical corticosteroids

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids may leads to lower low Apgar score compared with no topical corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.73
  8756 participants
  Low

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids vs no topical corticosteroids

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids may leads to lower congenital abnormality compared with no topical corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.93
  9263 participants
  Low

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids vs no topical corticosteroids

Mild/moderate topical corticosteroids may leads to lower orofacial cleft compared with no topical corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95
  38446 participants
  Low

Topical corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

Topical corticosteroids may leads to higher complete resolution of phimosis compared with placebo or no treatment (low certainty).

• Topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.73 [1.79, 4.16]
  10 studies · 834 participants
  Low
• Topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.09 [2.8, 5.97]
  2 studies · 280 participants
  Low

Topical corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

Topical corticosteroids may leads to higher partial resolution of phimosis compared with placebo or no treatment (low certainty).

• Topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.68 [1.17, 2.4]
  7 studies · 745 participants
  Low

Topical corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

It is very uncertain whether topical corticosteroids changes change in retractability score compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

• Topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 177 participants
  Very low

Topical corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

Topical corticosteroids showed no clear difference in adverse effects (any) compared with placebo or no treatment (low certainty).

• Topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.28 [0.03, 2.62]
  11 studies · 1091 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether inhaled corticosteroids changes combined outcome of mortality or BPD at 36 weeks' PMA compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Late (≥ 7 days) inhaled corticosteroids to reduce bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.1 [0.74, 1.63]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Very low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether inhaled corticosteroids changes mortality at 36 weeks' PMA compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Late (≥ 7 days) inhaled corticosteroids to reduce bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3 [0.35, 25.78]
  3 studies · 61 participants
  Very low