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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)

448 questions in 37 reviews · Multiple Sclerosis and Rare Diseases of the CNS

current versions
No studies 50 · 11.2%Ungraded 14 · 3.1%Very low 132 · 29.5%Low 160 · 35.7%Moderate 76 · 17%High 16 · 3.6%

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 control (post‐intervention)
Quality of life · people with multiple sclerosis (including people with relapsing‐remitting, secondary progressive or primary…
Interventions for preventing falls in people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Antibiotic prophylaxis vs no antibiotic prophylaxis / standard care
Number of participants experiencing shunt infection after administration of antibiotic prophylaxis · CSF‐shunt infections
Route of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of cerebrospinal fluid‐shunt infection (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.55 [0.36, 0.84]11 studies · 1109 participantsLow
Antibiotic prophylaxis vs no antibiotic prophylaxis / standard care
Number of participants experiencing shunt infection after administration of intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis · CSF‐shunt infections
Route of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of cerebrospinal fluid‐shunt infection (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.55 [0.33, 0.9]8 studies · 797 participantsLow
Antibiotic prophylaxis vs no antibiotic prophylaxis / standard care
Number of participants experiencing shunt infection after administration of intrathecal antibiotic prophylaxis · CSF‐shunt infections
Route of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of cerebrospinal fluid‐shunt infection (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.73 [0.28, 1.93]2 studies · 202 participantsLow
Antibiotic prophylaxis vs no antibiotic prophylaxis / standard care
Number of participants experiencing shunt infection after implantation of antibiotic impregnated catheters · CSF‐shunt infections
Route of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of cerebrospinal fluid‐shunt infection (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.36 [0.1, 1.24]1 study · 110 participantsVery low
Palliative care vs usual care
Health‐related quality of life Assessed by: SeiQoL‐DW (higher scores mean better quality of life) · Adults people with multiple sclerosis (including RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS)1
Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 58 participantsVery low
Palliative care vs usual care
Serious adverse events Assessed by: number of participants presenting at least one serious adverse event · Adults people with multiple sclerosis (including RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS)1
Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.97 [0.44, 2.12]1 study · 76 participantsLow
Palliative care vs usual care
Hospital admission Assessed by: number of participants admitted in hospital · Adults people with multiple sclerosis (including RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS)1
Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.78 [0.24, 2.52]1 study · 76 participantsLow
Palliative care vs usual care
Fatigue ‐ Not reported at long term · Adults people with multiple sclerosis (including RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS)1
Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Palliative care vs usual care
Disability ‐ Not reported at long term · Adults people with multiple sclerosis (including RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS)1
Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Palliative care vs usual care
Anxiety ‐ Not reported at long term · Adults people with multiple sclerosis (including RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS)1
Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Palliative care vs usual care
Depression ‐ Not reported at long term · Adults people with multiple sclerosis (including RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS)1
Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Annualised relapse rate (ARR) (number of relapses per patient per year) · [People] with [Multiple Sclerosis]
Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 417 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score · [People] with [Multiple Sclerosis]
Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 221 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
MRI gadolinium‐enhancing T1 lesions · [People] with [Multiple Sclerosis]
Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 256 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Serious adverse events · [People] with [Multiple Sclerosis]
Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 621 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Minor adverse events · [People] with [Multiple Sclerosis]
Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 701 participantsLow
Information provision vs (optimised) standard care
Outcomes (see also Table 3) · people with multiple sclerosis
Information provision for people with multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Information provision vs (optimised) standard care
Knowledge · people with multiple sclerosis
Information provision for people with multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 505 participantsModerate
Information provision vs (optimised) standard care
Decision making · people with multiple sclerosis
Information provision for people with multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 793 participantsLow
Information provision vs (optimised) standard care
Quality of life · people with multiple sclerosis
Information provision for people with multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 671 participantsLow
Information provision vs (optimised) standard care
Adverse events · people with multiple sclerosis
Information provision for people with multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 751 participantsModerate
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) vs Sham
Reduction in pain intensity · chronic back pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 90 participantsVery low
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) vs Sham
Reduction in depression and anxiety · chronic neuropathic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 35 participantsVery low
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) vs Sham
Improvement in QoL · chronic neuropathic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 19 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Reduction in pain · chronic neuropathic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 16 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Reduction in anxiety and depression · chronic neuropathic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 16 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Reduction in fatigue · chronic neuropathic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 16 participantsVery low
Telephone‐Delivered Education Group vs Sham
Reduction in pain interference, depression,fatigu e · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 163 participantsVery low
Telephone‐Delivered Education Group vs Sham
Improvement in pain, self efficacy,patient activation, health‐related quality of life, social role satisfaction,resilience,positive and negative affect · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 163 participantsVery low
Hypnosis vs relaxation control
Reduction in pain intensity · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 22 participantsVery low
Hypnosis vs relaxation control
Reduction in pain interference · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 22 participantsVery low
Hypnosis vs relaxation control
BPI: Brief Pain Inventory · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) vs Sham
Reduction in disability · chronic back pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 90 participantsVery low
Neurofeedback vs relaxation control
Reduction in pain Intensity · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Neurofeedback vs relaxation control
Reduction in fatigue · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Neurofeedback vs relaxation control
Reduction in pain interference · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Reflexology vs Sham
Reduction in pain · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 110 participantsVery low
Reflexology vs Sham
Reduction in disability · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 71 participantsVery low
Reflexology vs Sham
Improvement in Quality of Life · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 71 participantsVery low
Reflexology vs Sham
Reduction in Fatigue · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 71 participantsVery low
Reflexology vs Sham
Reduction in depression · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 71 participantsVery low
Reflexology vs Sham
Reduction in Spasms · chronic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 71 participantsVery low
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) vs Sham
Quality of Life · chronic back pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 90 participantsVery low
Ai Chi Exercises vs Sham
Reduction in pain intensity · chronic musculoskeletal pain in people with MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 73 participantsVery low
Ai Chi Exercises vs Sham
Reduction in disability · chronic musculoskeletal pain in people with MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 73 participantsVery low
Ai Chi Exercises vs Sham
Quality of Life · chronic musculoskeletal pain in people with MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 73 participantsVery low
Ai Chi Exercises vs Sham
Reduction in Fatigue · chronic musculoskeletal pain in people with MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 73 participantsVery low
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) vs Sham
Reduction in Pain Intensity · chronic neuropathic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 35 participantsVery low
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) vs Sham
Reduction in fatigue · chronic neuropathic pain in MS
Non‐pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 16 participantsVery low