Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in immunocompetent patients with septic shock

Xin Lu, Wei Han, Yan-xia Gao, Shi-gong Guo, Shi-yuan Yu, Xue-zhong Yu, Hua-dong Zhu, Yi Li

Table 2 Summary of findings for all included RCTs (grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation)

Outcomes	Anticipated absolute effects ^a (95% CI)		Relative effect (95% CI)	Number of participants (studies)	Quality of the evidence (GRADE)
Outcomes	Risk with control	Risk with corticosteroids	Relative effect (95% CI)	Number of participants (studies)	Quality of the evidence (GRADE)
Short-term mortality	452 per 1,000	429 per 1,000 (384-479)	RR 0.95 (0.85-1.06)	1,298 (nine RCTs)	⊕⊕⊕? moderate^b
Long-term mortality	606 per 1,000	582 per 1,000 (528-649)	RR 0.96 (0.87-1.07)	816 (three RCTs)	⊕⊕⊕⊕ high
Seven-day mortality	412 per 1,000	280 per 1,000 (210-371)	RR 0.68 (0.51-0.90)	457 (four RCTs)	⊕⊕?? low^{b, c}
Time to shock reversal	Ranging from 75.81 to 91.2 hours	MD -21.56 (-32.95 to -10.16)		263 (four RCTs)	⊕⊕⊕? moderate^b
Shock reversal	648 per 1,000	700-1,000 (642-765)	RR 1.08 (0.99-1.18)	997 (five RCTs)	⊕⊕⊕? moderate^b
Infection	257 per 1,000	280 per 1,000 (224-352)	RR 1.09 (0.87-1.37)	894 (four RCTs)	⊕⊕⊕? moderate^c
Gastrointestinal bleeding	88 per 1,000	100 per 1,000 (69-143)	RR 1.14 (0.79-1.63)	927 (four RCTs)	⊕⊕?? low^{b, c}
Hyperglycemia	657 per 1,000	749 per 1,000 (676-834)	RR 1.14 (1.03-1.27)	539 (two RCTs)	⊕⊕⊕? moderate^b