evidence/gaps
Cochrane · systematic review · CD013273

Paracetamol versus placebo for knee and hip osteoarthritis

Leopoldino, AO, Machado, GC, Ferreira, PH, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2019 · Cochrane Library

MusculoskeletalAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
7
current version
GRADE rated
6
No studies
1
Included studies
NR
No studies 1 · 14.3%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 3 · 42.9%High 3 · 42.9%

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.

Questions and results

Paracetamol versus placebo for hip or knee osteoarthritis

Population: people with hip or knee osteoarthritis
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Mean change in pain (0–100 scale) Short term (3–12 weeks), where 0 = no pain
Paracetamol vs placebo
no estimate extracted7 studies · 2355 participantsHigh
Physical function (WOMAC function 0–100)
Paracetamol vs placebo
no estimate extracted7 studies · 2354 participantsHigh
Quality of life Not measured
Paracetamol vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Withdrawals due to adverse events 24 weeks
Paracetamol vs placebo
RR 1.19 [0.91, 1.55]7 studies · 3023 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Total adverse events: number experiencing 24 weeks
Paracetamol vs placebo
RR 1.01 [0.92, 1.11]8 studies · 3252 participantsHigh
Liver toxicity: number experiencing abnormal liver function tests 24 weeks
Paracetamol vs placebo
RR 3.79 [1.94, 7.39]3 studies · 1237 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Serious adverse events: number experiencing 24 weeks
Paracetamol vs placebo
RR 1.36 [0.73, 2.53]6 studies · 3209 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision