Gap finder

Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

1,558 questions in 115 reviews · Vascular

current versions
No studies 346 · 22.2%Ungraded 90 · 5.8%Very low 281 · 18%Low 477 · 30.6%Moderate 313 · 20.1%High 51 · 3.3%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Exercise vs no exercise
Perioperative and postoperative: need for re‐intervention · adults with clinically diagnosed AAA deemed suitable for elective repair
Prehabilitation exercise therapy before elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (2021) · Cochrane
RR 1.29 [0.33, 4.96]2 studies · 144 participantsVery low
Exercise vs no exercise
Perioperative and postoperative complications: postoperative bleeding · adults with clinically diagnosed AAA deemed suitable for elective repair
Prehabilitation exercise therapy before elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (2021) · Cochrane
RR 0.57 [0.18, 1.8]1 study · 124 participantsVery low
Exercise vs no exercise
Length of ICU stay (days) · adults with clinically diagnosed AAA deemed suitable for elective repair
Prehabilitation exercise therapy before elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (2021) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 147 participantsVery low
Exercise vs no exercise
Length of hospital stay (days) · adults with clinically diagnosed AAA deemed suitable for elective repair
Prehabilitation exercise therapy before elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (2021) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 212 participantsVery low
Exercise vs no exercise
Number of days on a ventilator · adults with clinically diagnosed AAA deemed suitable for elective repair
Prehabilitation exercise therapy before elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (2021) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Early open repair vs ultrasound surveillance
Mortality ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
HR 0.992 studies · 2226 participantsHigh
Early open repair vs ultrasound surveillance
Costs (per participant) ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 1090 participantsModerate
Early open repair vs ultrasound surveillance
QoLc ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 2226 participantsUngraded
Early open repair vs ultrasound surveillance
Aneurysm rupture ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 2226 participantsUngraded
Early endovascular repair vs ultrasound surveillance
Mortality ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.92 [0.73, 5.06]2 studies · 846 participantsLow
Early endovascular repair vs ultrasound surveillance
Costs ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
MD 271 study · 614 participantsLow
Early endovascular repair vs ultrasound surveillance
Costs ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
MD 25571 study · 614 participantsLow
Early endovascular repair vs ultrasound surveillance
QoL ( · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 605 participantsUngraded
Early endovascular repair vs ultrasound surveillance
Aneurysm rupture (overall · small asymptomatic AAA
Surgery for small asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 1088 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Time to ulcer healing · participants with arterial ulcersa
Dressings and topical agents for arterial leg ulcers (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Change in ulcer area over time (6 ‐ 8 weeks) · participants with arterial ulcersa
Dressings and topical agents for arterial leg ulcers (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 49 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Complications and morbidity (6 ‐ 8 weeks) · participants with arterial ulcersa
Dressings and topical agents for arterial leg ulcers (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 49 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Patient satisfaction and quality of life data · participants with arterial ulcersa
Dressings and topical agents for arterial leg ulcers (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
EDTA vs placebo
All‐cause mortality · atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.97 [0.73, 1.28]2 studies · 1792 participantsLow
EDTA vs placebo
Coronary heart disease death · atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.02 [0.7, 1.48]1 study · 1708 participantsVery low
EDTA vs placebo
Myocardial infarction · atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.81 [0.57, 1.14]2 studies · 1792 participantsModerate
EDTA vs placebo
Angina · atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.55, 1.67]2 studies · 1792 participantsVery low
EDTA vs placebo
Stroke · atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.88 [0.4, 1.92]2 studies · 1867 participantsLow
EDTA vs placebo
Ankle‐brachial pressure index at 3 months post‐treatment · atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 181 participantsLow
EDTA vs placebo
Maximum walking distance (m) at 3 months post‐treatment · atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 165 participantsLow
Do phlebotonics improve signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency when vs placebo?
Oedema in the lower legs (dichotomous variable) · patients with venous insufficiency
Phlebotonics for venous insufficiency (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.7 [0.63, 0.78]13 studies · 1245 participantsModerate
Do phlebotonics improve signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency when vs placebo?
Oedema in the lower legs (ankle circumference, mm) · patients with venous insufficiency
Phlebotonics for venous insufficiency (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted15 studies · 2010 participantsModerate
Do phlebotonics improve signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency when vs placebo?
Quality of life (CIVIQ and other questionnaires) · patients with venous insufficiency
Phlebotonics for venous insufficiency (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 1639 participantsModerate
Do phlebotonics improve signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency when vs placebo?
Ulcer healing (dichotomous variable) · patients with venous insufficiency
Phlebotonics for venous insufficiency (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.94 [0.79, 1.13]6 studies · 461 participantsLow
Do phlebotonics improve signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency when vs placebo?
Adverse events · patients with venous insufficiency
Phlebotonics for venous insufficiency (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.14 [1.02, 1.27]37 studies · 5789 participantsModerate
Pentoxifylline vs placebo
PFWD (change in metres) (4–40 weeks' · people with intermittent claudication
Pentoxifylline for intermittent claudication (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 1890 participantsLow
Pentoxifylline vs placebo
TWD (change in metres) (8–52 weeks' · people with intermittent claudication
Pentoxifylline for intermittent claudication (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted14 studies · 2110 participantsLow
Pentoxifylline vs placebo
ABI (pre‐exercise/baseline ABI compared with · people with intermittent claudication
Pentoxifylline for intermittent claudication (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 902 participantsModerate
Pentoxifylline vs placebo
QoL (SF‐36, WIQ and unspecified) (1 study with 4 weeks' · people with intermittent claudication
Pentoxifylline for intermittent claudication (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 1179 participantsModerate
Pentoxifylline vs placebo
Side effects (number of cases or proportion) (4–52 weeks' · people with intermittent claudication
Pentoxifylline for intermittent claudication (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted9 studies · 1837 participantsLow
Does low molecular weight heparin prevent central venous catheter‐related thrombosis vs control
CVC‐related thrombosis ( · children with a CVC
Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of central venous catheter‐related thrombosis in children (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.68 [0.27, 1.75]2 studies · 787 participantsLow
Does low molecular weight heparin prevent central venous catheter‐related thrombosis vs control
Symptomatic CVC‐related thrombosis ( · children with a CVC
Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of central venous catheter‐related thrombosis in children (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.03 [0.21, 4.93]1 study · 158 participantsLow
Does low molecular weight heparin prevent central venous catheter‐related thrombosis vs control
Asymptomatic CVC‐related thrombosis ( · children with a CVC
Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of central venous catheter‐related thrombosis in children (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.17 [0.45, 3.08]1 study · 158 participantsLow
Does low molecular weight heparin prevent central venous catheter‐related thrombosis vs control
Major bleeding ( · children with a CVC
Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of central venous catheter‐related thrombosis in children (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.27 [0.05, 1.67]2 studies · 813 participantsLow
Does low molecular weight heparin prevent central venous catheter‐related thrombosis vs control
Minor bleeding ( · children with a CVC
Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of central venous catheter‐related thrombosis in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 813 participantsVery low
Does low molecular weight heparin prevent central venous catheter‐related thrombosis vs control
Mortality during study period ( · children with a CVC
Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of central venous catheter‐related thrombosis in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 813 participantsLow
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
PE: recurrent fatal and non‐fatal PE, demonstrated by CT, pulmonary angiography or ventilation‐perfusion lung scan (up to 6 months) · participants with unprovoked acute symptomatic PE and at high risk for recurrent PEa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.74 [0.52, 5.86]1 study · 399 participantsModerate
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Major bleedingd (at 90 days) · participants who sustained multiple traumatic injuriesa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 240 participantsModerate
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Mortality (up to 6 months) · participants with unprovoked acute symptomatic PE and at high risk for recurrent PEa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.39 [0.74, 2.62]1 study · 399 participantsModerate
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Symtomatic lower extremity venous thrombosis confirmed by Doppler ultrasound or venography (up to 6 months) · participants with unprovoked acute symptomatic PE and at high risk for recurrent PEa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.5 [0.05, 5.44]1 study · 399 participantsModerate
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Filter‐related complications (up to 6 months) · participants with unprovoked acute symptomatic PE and at high risk for recurrent PEa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 399 participantsUngraded
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Major bleedingc (up to 6 months) · participants with unprovoked acute symptomatic PE and at high risk for recurrent PEa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.86 [0.42, 1.77]1 study · 399 participantsModerate
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Symptomatic PE recurrent; as demonstrated by CT, pulmonary angiography, or post‐mortem, at 90 days · participants who sustained multiple traumatic injuriesa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 80 participantsModerate
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Mortality from any cause (up to 90 days) · participants who sustained multiple traumatic injuriesa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 240 participantsModerate
Retrievable vena caval filters with anticoagulation vs anticoagulation
Lower extremity venous thrombosis confirmed by Doppler ultrasound or venography (at 14 days) · participants who sustained multiple traumatic injuriesa
Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 240 participantsModerate