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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)

1,173 questions in 89 reviews · Neuromuscular

current versions
No studies 302 · 25.7%Ungraded 119 · 10.1%Very low 267 · 22.8%Low 239 · 20.4%Moderate 177 · 15.1%High 69 · 5.9%

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
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor vs placebo
Improvement in disability grade Defined as achievement of a specified degree of improvement · people with Guillain‐Barré syndrome
Pharmacological treatment other than corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange for… (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.28, 3.54]1 study · 10 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Cramp frequency (percentage change from baseline at 4 weeks) · for effects on cramps, people (other than pregnant women) with muscle cramps (largely older adults); for adverse…
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 177 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Cramp frequency (mean number of cramps per week on treatment at 4 weeks) · pregnant women with leg cramps
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 204 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Cramp intensity (moderate or worse at 4 weeks) · pregnant women with leg cramps
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Cramp duration (≥ 1 minute at 4 weeks) · pregnant women with leg cramps
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Cramp frequency (responder analysis: 25% or better reduction at 4 weeks) · for effects on cramps, people (other than pregnant women) with muscle cramps (largely older adults); for adverse…
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.04 [0.84, 1.29]3 studies · 177 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Cramp frequency (mean number of cramps per week on treatment at 4 weeks) · for effects on cramps, people (other than pregnant women) with muscle cramps (largely older adults); for adverse…
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 307 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Cramp intensity (moderate or worse at 4 weeks) · for effects on cramps, people (other than pregnant women) with muscle cramps (largely older adults); for adverse…
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.33 [0.81, 2.21]2 studies · 91 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Cramp duration (≥ 1 minute at 4 weeks) · for effects on cramps, people (other than pregnant women) with muscle cramps (largely older adults); for adverse…
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.83 [0.74, 4.53]1 study · 46 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Major adverse events · for effects on cramps, people (other than pregnant women) with muscle cramps (largely older adults); for adverse…
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.68 [0.14, 3.31]3 studies · 185 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Minor adverse events · for effects on cramps, people (other than pregnant women) with muscle cramps (largely older adults); for adverse…
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.51 [0.98, 2.33]4 studies · 254 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Cramp frequency (percentage change from baseline at 4 weeks) · pregnant women with leg cramps
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 204 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Cramp frequency (responder analysis: 25% or better reduction at 4 weeks) · pregnant women with leg cramps
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 204 participantsVery low
Tafamidis vs placebo
Disability due to FAP progression Not measured · people with early‐stage TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Diflunisal vs placebo
Quality of life (expressed as the change in SF‐36 mental component score) Scale from: 0 (worst possible quality of life) to 100 (best possible quality of life). · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 130 participantsVery low
Diflunisal vs placebo
Number of participants who died during the trial · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.46 [0.15, 1.41]1 study · 130 participantsVery low
Diflunisal vs placebo
Number of dropouts due to adverse events · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.06 [0.39, 10.87]1 study · 130 participantsVery low
Diflunisal vs placebo
Number of participants experiencing at least one severe adverse event · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.77 [0.18, 3.32]1 study · 130 participantsVery low
Patisiran vs placebo
Disability due to FAP progression (expressed as the change in R‐ODS) Scale from: 0 (worst disability) to 48 (normal) · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 225 participantsModerate
Patisiran vs placebo
Severity of peripheral neuropathy (expressed as the change in mNIS+7ALN) Scale from: 0 (normal) to 304 (total impairment) · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 225 participantsModerate
Patisiran vs placebo
Quality of life (expressed as the change in 35‐Item Norfolk QOL‐DN total score) Scale from: ‐4 (best possible quality of life) to 136 (worst possible quality of life) · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 225 participantsLow
Patisiran vs placebo
Number of participants who died during the trial · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.61 [0.21, 1.74]1 study · 225 participantsLow
Patisiran vs placebo
Number of dropouts due to adverse events · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.33 [0.13, 0.82]1 study · 225 participantsLow
Patisiran vs placebo
Number of participants experiencing at least one severe adverse event · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.91 [0.64, 1.28]1 study · 225 participantsLow
Tafamidis vs placebo
Severity of peripheral neuropathy (expressed as the change in NIS‐LL) Scale from: 0 (normal) to 88 (total impairment) · people with early‐stage TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 125 participantsLow
Inotersen vs placebo
Disability due to FAP progression Not measured · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Inotersen vs placebo
Severity of peripheral neuropathy (expressed as the change in mNIS+7Ionis) Scale from: ‐22.3 (normal) to 346.3 (total impairment) · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 172 participantsModerate
Inotersen vs placebo
Quality of life (expressed as the change in 35‐Item Norfolk QOL‐DN total score) Scale from: ‐4 (best possible quality of life) to 136 (worst possible quality of life) · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 172 participantsLow
Inotersen vs placebo
Number of participants who died during the trial · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 5.94 [0.33, 105.6]1 study · 172 participantsLow
Inotersen vs placebo
Number of dropouts due to adverse events · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 8.57 [1.16, 63.07]1 study · 172 participantsLow
Inotersen vs placebo
Number of participants experiencing at least one severe adverse event · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.48 [0.85, 2.57]1 study · 172 participantsLow
Tafamidis vs placebo
Quality of life (expressed as the change in 35‐Item Norfolk QOL‐DN total score) Scale from: ‐2 (best possible quality of life) to 138 (worst possible quality of life) · people with early‐stage TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 125 participantsVery low
Tafamidis vs placebo
Number of participants who died during the trial · people with early‐stage TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.65 [0.11, 3.74]1 study · 128 participantsVery low
Tafamidis vs placebo
Number of dropouts due to adverse events · people with early‐stage TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.29 [0.3, 5.54]1 study · 128 participantsVery low
Tafamidis vs placebo
Number of participants experiencing at least one severe adverse event · people with early‐stage TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.16 [0.37, 3.62]1 study · 128 participantsVery low
Diflunisal vs placebo
Disability due to FAP progression (expressed as the change in Kumamoto Score) Scale from: 0 (normal) to 102 (worst disease severity). · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 130 participantsLow
Diflunisal vs placebo
Severity of peripheral neuropathy (expressed as the change in NIS+7) Scale from: 0 (normal) to 270 (total impairment) · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 130 participantsLow
Diflunisal vs placebo
Quality of life (expressed as the change in SF‐36 physical component score) Scale from: 0 (worst possible quality of life) to 100 (best possible quality of life) · people with TTR‐FAP
Pharmacological treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 130 participantsVery low
Antivirals plus corticosteroids vs corticosteroids plus placebo or no treatment (AS versus OS)
Incomplete recovery at end of study № of participants: 766 (3 RCTs) · Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)
Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis) (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.81 [0.38, 1.74]NRLow
Antivirals plus corticosteroids vs corticosteroids plus placebo or no treatment (AS versus OS)
Motor synkinesis or crocodile tears № of participants: 469 (2 RCTs) · Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)
Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis) (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.56 [0.36, 0.87]NRModerate
Antivirals plus corticosteroids vs corticosteroids plus placebo or no treatment (AS versus OS)
Adverse events № of participants: 656 (2 RCTs) · Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)
Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis) (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.17 [0.81, 1.68]NRVery low
Strength training vs no training
Muscle strength · people with myotonic dystrophy
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRVery low
Strength training vs no training
Time‐scored functional assessments of muscle performance · people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Strength training vs no training
Quality of life · people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Strength training vs no training
Pain · people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
Strength training vs no training
Experienced fatigue · people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Strength training vs no training
Adverse effects requiring withdrawal · people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
Aerobic exercise vs no training
Muscle strength · people with dermatomyositis and polymyositis
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Aerobic exercise vs no training
Aerobic capacity: VO2 max (defined as the highest O2 consumption) · people with dermatomyositis and polymyositis
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRVery low
Aerobic exercise vs no training
Time‐scored functional assessments of muscle performance: disability · people with dermatomyositis and polymyositis
Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRVery low