Risks and benefits of stress ulcer prophylaxis in adult neurocritical care patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Table 2 Subgroup analyses for outcomes

Comparison	UGI bleeding					Mortality					Nosocomial pneumonia
Comparison	Studies (n)	Patients (n)	RR (95 % CI)	P value^a	I ² value^b	Studies (n)	Patients (n)	RR (95 % CI)	P value^a	I ² value^b	Studies (n)	Patients (n)	RR (95 % CI)	P value^a	I ² value^b
Risk of bias				0.92	0 %				0.32	0 %				0.82	0 %
Higher (high)	5	527	0.30 (0.16–0.56)			4	347	0.68 (0.48–0.95)			2	257	0.98 (0.29–3.31)
Lower (low/unclear)	3	302	0.32 (0.15–0.66)			1	34	3.35 (0.15–76.93)			2	264	1.16 (0.51–2.63)
Intervention				0.42	0 %				0.68	0 %				0.46	0 %
PPIs	2	219	0.20 (0.06–0.68)			1	111	0.78 (0.46–1.32)			1	111	1.60 (0.73–3.51)
H2RAs	8	699	0.35 (0.22–0.53)			5	323	0.68 (0.47–0.98)			4	463	1.12 (0.66–1.91)
Control				NA	NA				0.57	0 %				NA	NA
Placebo	7	789	0.31 (0.20–0.47)			4	341	0.68 (0.47–0.97)			4	521	NA
No prophylaxis	1	40	Not estimable			1	40	0.92 (0.33–2.53)			0	0	NA
Enteral nutrition				0.86	0 %				0.31	2.9 %				0.96	0 %
Yes	4	423	0.29 (0.16–0.53)			2	142	0.55 (0.31–1.00)			2	193	1.03 (0.26–4.01)
No	4	406	0.32 (0.14–0.74)			3	239	0.80 (0.53–1.21)			2	328	1.07 (0.53–2.15)
Diagnosis				0.52	0 %				0.36	0 %				0.71	0 %
TBI	4	291	0.22 (0.11–0.43)			3	124	0.88 (0.49–1.57)			1	163	0.75 (0.38–1.51)
ICH	3	437	0.31 (0.14–0.72)			2	257	0.63 (0.41–0.95)			2	257	0.98 (0.29–3.31)
Study location				0.31	1.6 %				0.36	0 %				0.17	46.0 %
Asia	4	538	0.35 (0.20–0.62)			2	257	0.63 (0.41–0.95)			3	358	1.40 (0.80–2.47)
Non-Asian	4	291	0.22 (0.11–0.43)			3	124	0.88 (0.49–1.57)			1	163	0.75 (0.38–1.51)

CI confidence interval; H2RA histamine 2 receptor antagonist, ICH intracerebral hemorrhage, NA not applicable, PPI proton pump inhibitor, RR risk ratios, TBI traumatic brain injury, UGI upper gastrointestinal
^a P values for interaction between groups
^b I ² values for heterogeneity between groups

ISSN: 1364-8535