Proton pump inhibitor for non-erosive reflux disease: A meta-analysis

Table 3 Quality of outcomes according to Grade system

Outcome	Study design	Risk of bias	Inconsistecy	Indirectness	Imprecision	Publication bias	Quality of evidence
PPI vs H2RA on the rate of symptomatic relief	RCT	Serious1	No	No	No	Serious4	Low
Long-duration subgroup	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	Serious4	Low
Short-duration subgroup	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	Serious4	Low
High-dose subgroup	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	Serious4	Low
Lose-dose subgroup	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	Serious4	Low
PPI vs placebo on the rate of symptomatic relief	RCT	No	Series3	No	No	No	Moderate
Long-duration subgroup	RCT	No	Series3	No	No	No	Moderate
Short-duration subgroup	RCT	No	No	No	No	No	High
High-dose subgroup	RCT	No	No	No	No	No	High
Lose-dose subgroup	RCT	No	Series3	No	No	No	Moderate
PPI vs H2RA on the rate of adverse events	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	Serious4	Low
PPI vs placebo on the rate of adverse events	RCT	No	Series3	No	No	No	Moderate
Long-duration subgroup	RCT	No	No	No	No	No	High
Short-duration subgroup	RCT	No	Series3	No	No	No	Moderate
High-dose subgroup	RCT	No	Series3	No	No	No	Moderate
Lose-dose subgroup	RCT	No	No	No	No	No	High
Overall efficacy of PPI against NERD	RCT	Serious1	Series3	No	No	No	Low
Long-duration subgroup	RCT	Serious2	Series3	No	No	No	Low
Short-duration subgroup	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	No	Moderate
High-dose subgroup	RCT	Serious2	Series3	No	No	No	Low
Lose-dose subgroup	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	No	Moderate
Overall safety of PPI against NERD	RCT	Serious2	Series3	No	No	Serious4	Low
Long-duration subgroup	RCT	Serious2	Series3	No	No	Serious4	Low
Short-duration subgroup	RCT	No	No	No	No	Serious4	High
High-dose subgroup	RCT	No	Series3	No	No	Serious4	Moderate
Lose-dose subgroup	RCT	Serious2	No	No	No	Serious4	Moderate

¹Allocation concealment and blind method were not offered which resulted in very serious bias;

²Allocation concealment and blind method were not offered which resulted in very serious bias mild bias;

³The assessing standard of outcomes maybe contribute to the heterogeneity;

⁴Publication bias may be existed. RCT: Randomized controlled trials; NERD: Non-erosive reflux disease; PPI: Proton pump inhibitor; H₂RA: H₂ receptor antagonists.