What do systematic reviews say?

Higher‐dose anticoagulants vs lower‐dose anticoagulants

Higher‐dose anticoagulants showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with lower‐dose anticoagulants (high certainty).

• Anticoagulants for people hospitalised with COVID‐19: a rapid review 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.92, 1.16]
  4 studies · 4489 participants
  High

Summary of Findings Table ‐ Chronic non‐invasive ventilation vs standard treatment following a severe exacerbation

Summary of Findings Table ‐ Chronic non‐invasive ventilation showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with standard treatment following a severe exacerbation (low certainty).

• Chronic non‐invasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.97 [0.74, 1.28]
  2 studies · 318 participants
  Low

Aspirin vs vitamin K antagonist (VKA)

It is very uncertain whether aspirin (ASA) changes all‐cause mortality compared with vitamin K antagonist (VKA) (very low certainty).

• Antithrombotic therapy for ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma receiving immunomodulatory agents 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3 [0.12, 73.24]
  1 study · 440 participants
  Very low

Aspirin vs low molecular weight heparin

It is very uncertain whether aspirin (ASA) changes all‐cause mortality compared with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (very low certainty).

• Antithrombotic therapy for ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma receiving immunomodulatory agents 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.06, 15.81]
  2 studies · 781 participants
  Very low
• Antithrombotic therapy for ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma receiving immunomodulatory agents 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.06, 15.89]
  1 study · 440 participants
  Very low

Vitamin K antagonists vs low molecular weight heparin

It is very uncertain whether vitamin K antagonist (VKA) changes all‐cause mortality compared with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (very low certainty).

• Antithrombotic therapy for ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma receiving immunomodulatory agents 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.33 [0.01, 8.1]
  1 study · 439 participants
  Very low
• Antithrombotic therapy for ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma receiving immunomodulatory agents 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2 [0.18, 21.9]
  1 study · 440 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings: pioglitazone monotherapy vs another pharmacological glucose‐lowering monotherapy

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Pioglitazone for prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated complications in people at risk… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Exercise vs no exercise at longest available follow‐up

It is very uncertain whether exercise changes all‐cause mortality ( compared with no exercise at longest available follow‐up (very low certainty).

• Exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation for adult patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.18 [0.65, 2.14]
  3 studies · 332 participants
  Very low

Direct oral anticoagulant secondary prophylaxis vs Low molecular weight heparin secondary prophylaxis

Direct oral anticoagulant secondary prophylaxis showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with low molecular weight heparin secondary prophylaxis (low certainty).

• Anticoagulation for the long‐term treatment of venous thromboembolism in people with cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.97 [0.83, 1.14]
  5 studies · 2854 participants
  Low

Higher polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) vs lower PUFA

Higher polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with lower PUFA (moderate certainty).

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.98 [0.89, 1.07]
  24 studies · 19290 participants
  Moderate

Higher BP target (< 150‐160/95‐105 mmHg) vs lower BP target (< 140/90 mmHg)

Higher BP target (< 150‐160/95‐105 mmHg) showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with lower BP target (< 140/90 mmHg) (low certainty).

• Blood pressure targets for hypertension in older adults 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.24 [0.99, 1.54]
  3 studies · 8221 participants
  Low

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs no prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery

It is very uncertain whether prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery changes all‐cause mortality within 30 days of surgery compared with no prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.78 [0.41, 1.45]
  1 study · 72 participants
  Very low

Probiotics vs control

• Probiotics to prevent necrotising enterocolitis in very preterm or very low birth weight infants 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  54 studies · 10484 participants
  Moderate

Probiotics vs control

• Probiotics to prevent necrotising enterocolitis in very preterm or very low birth weight infants 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  7 studies · 1723 participants
  Low

Prebiotic vs control

• Prebiotics to prevent necrotising enterocolitis in very preterm or very low birth weight infants 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  7 studies · 686 participants
  Low

Synbiotic vs control

• Synbiotics to prevent necrotising enterocolitis in very preterm or very low birth weight infants 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 925 participants
  Low

Half strength formula vs full strength formula

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dilute versus full‐strength formula in exclusively formula‐fed preterm or low birth weight infants 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Dopexamine vs dopamine

It is very uncertain whether dopexamine changes all‐cause short‐term mortality: time in hospital compared with dopamine (very low certainty).

• Inotropic agents and vasodilator strategies for the treatment of cardiogenic shock or low cardiac output syndrome 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 70 participants
  Very low

Direct thrombin inhibitors vs vitamin K antagonist (VKA)

Direct thrombin inhibitors showed no clear difference in all‐cause Mortality events in TKR combined doses compared with vitamin K antagonists (low certainty).

• Direct thrombin inhibitors versus vitamin K antagonists or low molecular weight heparins for prevention of venous… 2010 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.62 [0.57, 4.58]
  3 studies · 5243 participants
  Low

Levosimendan vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether levosimendan changes all‐cause long‐term mortality: range 4 to 6 months compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Inotropic agents and vasodilator strategies for the treatment of cardiogenic shock or low cardiac output syndrome 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.55 [0.16, 1.9]
  2 studies · 55 participants
  Very low

Levosimendan vs dobutamine

Levosimendan showed no clear difference in all‐cause short‐term mortality: range 15 to 31 days compared with dobutamine (low certainty).

• Inotropic agents and vasodilator strategies for the treatment of cardiogenic shock or low cardiac output syndrome 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.6 [0.36, 1.03]
  4 studies · 1701 participants
  Low