Outcome | Time pointa | Placebo group, n/N (%) | Definition given in trial |
---|---|---|---|
Symptom free | |||
Christiaens et al (2002)8 | 3 days | 7/38 (18) | No symptoms |
Brooks et al (1972)7 | 4 days | 12/20 (60) | Clear of symptoms |
Christiaens et al (2002)8 | 7 days | 14/38 (37) | No symptoms |
Ferry et al (2004)9 | 7 days | 78/277 (28) | No symptoms |
Ferry et al (2004)9 | 9 days | (42)b | No symptoms |
Ferry et al (2004)9 | 6 weeks | 90/166 (54→36)c | No symptoms |
Symptom improvement | |||
Christiaens et al (2002)8 | 3 days | 12/35 (34) | A few symptoms |
Christiaens et al (2002)8 | 7 days | 3/33 (9) | A few symptoms |
Failure to improve | |||
Christiaens et al (2002)8 | 2 days | 6/38 (16) | 5 with worsening symptoms; 1 with suspected acute pyelonephritis (‘crossover’) |
Christiaens et al (2002)8 | 5 days | 6+5c = 11/38 (29) | Worsening symptoms, commenced antibiotics (‘crossover’) |
Brooks et al (1972)7 | 7 days | 5/20 (25) | Still had symptoms |
Ferry et al (2004)9 | 6 weeks | (39) | Worsening symptoms, commenced antibiotics (‘crossover’) |
↵a Time points are from commencement of placebo treatment for Ferry et al’s (2004)9study; for Brooks et al (1972)7and Christiaens et al (2002); 8the context for the time points is not specified. In all studies, the relationship between recorded time points and the onset of symptoms is unknown. If time points were reported as a range in the original study, the median was taken and used for analysis.
↵b Number not given in trial; extracted from Ferry et al’s (2004)9 data; see Figure 3.
↵c Reported as 54%, but if ‘crossover’ participants are included, this reduces to 36%, as per the authors’ adjustment for dropouts. c6 at Day 2, and then 5 additional patients at 5 days = 11 who had ‘failed to improve’ by Day 5.