Efficacy and Safety of Iguratimod for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Table 2
Summary of the findings for the main comparison: iguratimod compared to placebo for rheumatoid arthritis.
Outcomes
Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI)
Relative effect (95% CI)
No. of participants (studies)
Quality of the evidence (GRADE)
Comments
Assumed risk
Corresponding risk
Placebo
Iguratimod
ACR20/24 weeks
219 per 1000
514 per 1000 (398 to 660)
RR 2.35 (1.82 to 3.02)
636 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
Tender joint count
The mean tender joint count in the intervention groups was −0.44 lower (−0.61 to −0.27 lower)
593 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
Swollen joint count
The mean swollen joint count in the intervention groups was −0.49 lower (−0.66 to −0.32 lower)
592 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
Assessment of rest pain
The mean assessment of rest pain in the intervention groups was −0.71 lower (−0.89 to −0.54 lower)
590 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
Physician global assessment of disease activity
The mean physician global assessment of disease activity in the intervention groups was −0.74 lower (−0.93 to −0.55 lower)
592 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
Patient global assessment of disease activity
The mean patient global assessment of disease activity in the intervention groups was −0.58 lower (−0.80 to −0.36 lower)
591 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
HAQ score
The mean HAQ score in the intervention groups was −0.67 lower (−0.84 to −0.50 lower)
591 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
CRP
The mean CRP in the intervention groups was −0.31 lower (−0.53 to −0.09 lower)
587 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
ESR
The mean ESR in the intervention groups was −0.64 lower (−0.82 to −0.45 lower)
530 (3 studies)
⊕
⊕
⊕
⊝moderate1
Important
The basis for the assumed risk (e.g., the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio; MTX: methotrexate; SASP: salazosulfapyridine. GRADE working group grades of evidence. High quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.
1Two studies had unclear selective biases and no intent-to-treat analyses.