Characteristics of the included comparisons in RCTs and the results of conventional meta-analysis
| Comparison | No. of trials | No. of pts | Target joint | Mean age (range) | Female % | Mean FU periods (weeks, range) | SMD (95% CI) for pain | SMD (95% CI) for function |
| Diclofenac patch vs placebo | 2 | 258 | Knee | 65.2 (64–67) | 69.8 | 2 | −0.94 (−1.20 to –0.68) | −0.55 (−0.81 to –0.30) |
| Ibuprofen vs placebo | 3 | 225 | Knee | 63.9 (60.8–67) | 63.5 | 1.3 (1–2) | −0.66 (−1.06 to –0.25) | −0.72 (−1.00 to –0.44) |
| Piroxicam vs placebo | 3 | 421 | Knee or lumbar | 51 | 64.5 | 2 | −0.50 (−0.82 to –0.19) | −1.07 (−1.40 to –0.74) |
| Nimesulide vs placebo | 1 | 70 | Knee | 53.6 | 84.3 | 4 | −0.39 (−0.90 to 0.13) | −0.49 (−1.01 to 0.03) |
| Diclofenac gel vs placebo | 7 | 1783 | Multiple joints | 61.3 (52–67) | 69.2 | 6 (2–12) | −0.30 (−0.39 to –0.20) | −0.36 (−0.46 to –0.27) |
| Diclofenac solution vs placebo | 6 | 1402 | Knee | 62.8 (60.2–65) | 63.8 | 7.3 (4–12) | −0.29 (−0.40 to –0.18) | −0.32 (−0.43 to –0.21) |
| Ketoprofen vs placebo | 6 | 2787 | Knee | 61.5 (59–63.3) | 67.9 | 8 (2–12) | −0.10 (−0.30 to 0.11) | −0.04 (−0.12 to 0.05) |
| Salicylate vs placebo | 1 | 116 | Knee or hip | 65.7 | 55.2 | 4 | −0.08 (−0.45 to 0.29) | NR |
| Eltenac vs placebo | 2 | 437 | Knee | 64.5 (61–67) | 72.3 | 4 | −0.02 (−0.23 to 0.18) | −0.37 (−0.58 to –0.17) |
| Etoricoxib vs placebo | 1 | 48 | Knee | 61.4 | 68.8 | 4 | 0.04 (−0.53 to 0.60) | 0.13 (−0.44 to 0.69) |
| Indomethacin vs diclofenac gel | 1 | 99 | Knee, hip or hand | 54.2 | 68.7 | 2 | 0.29 (−0.11 to 0.69) | 0.38 (−0.03 to 0.78) |
| Indomethacin vs placebo | 1 | 100 | Knee or ankle | NR | 72 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Ketoprofen vs diclofenac gel | 1 | 85 | Knee | 57.1 | 84.7 | 4 | NR | −0.13 (−1.48 to –0.58) |
| Piroxicam vs diclofenac gel | 1 | 69 | Knee | 56.5 | 60.9 | 4 | NR | NR |
FU, follow-up; No. of pts, number of participants included; No. of trials, number of trials included; NR, not reported; RCTs, randomised controlled trials; SMD, standardised mean difference.