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Table 3 Results of meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses.

From: Assessing the potential for outcome reporting bias in a review: a tutorial

Outcome

Review results

Number of studies suspected of ORB

Number of participants missing from the meta-analysis (%)

Sensitivity analysis results

    

ORB alone

Study publication bias *

Intravenous Magnesium: children

Hospital admission

RR 0.69 (95% CI 0.53, 0.90) from 3 studies, I2 = 17.7%, RE. Favours intervention

3 [18, 23, 24]

117 (50%)

RR 0.76 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.99) for one study as trialists confirmed that for the other two it was not measured.

1

Pulmonary function

SMD 1.94 (95% CI: 0.80, 3.08) from 4 studies, I2 = 84.4%, RE. Favours intervention

2 [18, 20]

104 (45%)

NA: both studies given H classifications and this was confirmed by trialists

4

Intravenous Magnesium: adults

Hospital admission

RR 0.87 (95% CI 0.70, 1.08) from 8 studies, I2- = 30%, RE. Favours intervention

2 [22, 26]

129 (14%)

NA: confirmed by trialists that this was not measured

4

Pulmonary function

SMD 0.25 (95% CI -0.01, 0.51) from 9 studies, I2 = 70.6%, RE. Favours intervention

1 [19]

33 (3%)

NA: results from one study obtained and included in an updated meta-analysis

 
 

Updated SMD 0.24, (95% CI 0, 0.48) from 10 studies, RE. I2 = 67%

   

7

Nebulised Magnesium: children

Hospital admission

RR 2 (95% CI 0.19, 20.93) from 1 study, RE. Favours control

1 [25]

40 (39%)

NA: confirmed by the trialists that this was not measured

1

Pulmonary function

SMD -0.26 (95% CI -1.49, 0.98) from 2 studies, I2 = 88.9%, RE. Favours control

0

0

NA: all eligible studies reported on this outcome

1

Nebulised Magnesium: adults

Hospital admission

RR 0.68 (95% CI 0.46, 1.02) from 6 studies, I2 = 0, RE. Favours intervention

1 [21]

74 (17%)

RR 0.76 (95% CI 0.51, 1.13)

8

Pulmonary function

SMD 0.17 (95% CI -0.02, 0.36) 7 studies, I squared 1.2%, RE. Favours intervention

0

0

NA: all eligible studies reported on this outcome

5

  1. *: number of unpublished studies required to overturn review conclusions after allowing for ORB. When the result is statistically significant this implies the result becoming non-significant. When the result is not statistically significant, the reported value is the number required to change the direction of treatment effect.
  2. NA: Not Applicable; RE: random effects