The sham effect of invasive interventions in chronic coronary syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 2 GRADE assessment of pooled evidence

Outcome	GRADE certainty assessment							Effect (95% CI)
Outcome	Participants (studies)	Risk of bias	Inconsistency	Indirectness	Imprecision	Publication bias	Overall certainty of evidence	Effect (95% CI)
Exercise time ratio	393* (11 sham arms of RCTs)	Very Serious**	not serious	not serious	not serious	none	⨁⨁◯◯ Low	RR 1.07 (1.02–1.11)
Exercise time in SMD	454 (13 sham arms of RCTs)	Very Serious**	not serious	not serious	not serious	none	⨁⨁◯◯ Low	SMD 0.22 higher (0.09 higher to 0.35 higher)

CI: confidence interval; RC: relative change (similar to risk ratio); SMD: standardised mean difference; *Two studies did not report baseline data to calculate the exercise time ratio (only provided data about change). ** Data derived from pre-post effect in the sham arm of RCTs, and high risk of selective reporting of the outcome measure

ISSN: 1471-2261