Table 2 Effect of corticosteroids versus control on pain and function
| Â | Study | Scale | Range | Mean (SD), calculated Corticosteroid | Mean (SD), calculated Control | Number Corticosteroid | Number Control | Mean difference (95% CI) | Meta-analysis (SMD 95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Short term effect (4-6 weeks)/pain | |||||||||
 Oral | Kroon 2019 [8]* | VAS | 0-100 | -21.5 (21.7) | -5.2 (24.3) | 46 | 46 | -16.5 (-26.1 to -6.9) | -0.53 (-0.79, -0.28) |
Wenham 2012 [22]* | VAS | 0-100 | -20 (10.8) | -17 (10.8) | 35 | 35 | NR | ||
Kvien 2008 [21]* | VAS | 0-100 | -18.6 (21.4) | -6.3 (21.1) | 42 | 41 | -12.3 (-21.5 to -3) | ||
 Intra-articular | Sabaah 2020(a) [31] | VAS | 0-10 | 4 (1.6) | 4 (1.6) | 15 | 15 | NR | MD 0.41 (-1.51, 2.33) |
Sabaah 2020(b) [31] | VAS | 0-10 | 4 (1.6) | 4 (1.6) | 15 | 15 | NR | ||
Jahangiri 2014 [28] | VAS | 0-100 | NR | NR | 29 | 30 | -0.7 (-1.8 to 0.2) | ||
Bahadir 2009 [27] | VAS | 0-10 | 3.1 (2.6) | 4.4 (2.6) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||
Short term effect (4-6 weeks)/function | |||||||||
 Oral | Kroon 2019 [8]* | AUSCAN | 0-100 | -6.5 (7.4) | -2.7 (4.7) | 46 | 46 | -3.7 (-6.2 to -1.1) | -0.37 (-0.63, -0.12) |
Wenham 2012 [22]* | AUSCAN | 0-100 | -10 (9.3) | -8 (9.3) | 35 | 35 | NR | ||
Kvien 2008 [21]* | AUSCAN | 0-100 | -8.1 (17.5) | -3.6 (17.3) | 42 | 41 | -4.5 (-12.2 to -3.2) | ||
 Intra-articular | Sabaah 2020(a) [31] | AUSCAN | 0-20 | 16.7 (4.9) | 16 (3.3) | 15 | 15 | NR | -0.55 (-1.19, 0.09) |
Sabaah 2020(b) [31] | AUSCAN | 0-20 | 16.7 (4.9) | 19.3 (1.6) | 15 | 15 | NR | ||
Bahadir 2009 [27] | Duruoz hand index | 0-90 | 13.8 (10.2) | 24 (12.4) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||
Intermediate term effect (3 months/12-14 weeks)/pain | |||||||||
 Oral | Kroon 2019 [8]* | VAS | 0-100 | NA | NA | 46 | 46 | 6.6 (-3.7 to 16.9) | MD 4.06 (-1.53, 9.65) |
Wenham 2012 [22]* | VAS | 0-100 | -10 (13.9) | -13 (13.9) | 34 | 33 | NR | ||
 Intra-articular | Malahias 2021 [32] | VAS | 0-100 | 30.83 (42.44) | 42.5 (42.67) | 17 | 16 | NR | 0.35 (-0.63, 1.33) |
Sabaah 2020(a) [31] | VAS | 0-10 | 6 (2.5) | 2.7 (0.8) | 15 | 15 | NR | ||
Sabaah 2020(b) [31] | VAS | 0-10 | 6 (2.5) | 5 (1.6) | 15 | 15 | NR | ||
Bahadir 2009 [27] | VAS | 0-100 | 32 (20) | 46 (27) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||
Intermediate term effect (3 months)/function | |||||||||
 Oral | Kroon 2019 [8]* | AUSCAN | 0-20 | -1.3 (6.8) | -1.8 (6.3) | 46 | 46 | 0.7 (-2 to 3.4) | -0.04 (-0.35, 0.27) |
Wenham 2012 [22]* | AUSCAN | 0-100 | -2 (10.1) | 0 (10.1) | 34 | 33 | NR | ||
 Intra-articular | Malahias 2021 [32] | Q-DASH | 0-100 | 32.6 (31.8) | 32.8 (29.2) | 17 | 16 | NR | 0.39 (-0.79, 1.56) |
Sabaah 2020(a) [31] | AUSCAN | 0-20 | 21.7 (2.5) | 14 (3.3) | 15 | 15 | NR | ||
Sabaah 2020(b) [31] | AUSCAN | 0-20 | 21.7 (2.5) | 20.3 (3.3) | 15 | 15 | NR | ||
Bahadir 2009 [27] | Duruoz hand index | 0-90 | 11.2 (8.5) | 22.2 (13.2) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||
Long term effect (6 months)/pain | Â | ||||||||
 Intra-articular | Jahangiri 2014 [28] | VAS | 0-10 | 2.4 (1.8) | 1.2 (1.6) | 27 | 28 | NR | -0.18 (-1.91, 1.55) |
Bahadir 2009 [27] | VAS | 0-10 | 3.5 (1.8) | 5.7 (2.2) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||
Long term effect (6 months)/function | |||||||||
 Intra-articular | Jahangiri 2014 [28] | HAQ-DI | 0-3 | 2.6 (1.5) | 1.6 (1.3) | 27 | 28 | NR | -0.10 (-1.69, 1.49) |
Bahadir 2009 [27] | Duruoz Hand Index | 0-90 | 12 (8.7) | 20 (22.1) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||
Long term effect (12 months)/pain | |||||||||
 Intra-articular | Malahias 2021 [32] | VAS | 0-10 | 65 (24.3) | 27.5 (34.5) | 17 | 16 | NR | 0.34 (-1.38, 2.06) |
Bahadir 2009 [27] | VAS | 0-10 | 3.5 (1.8) | 5.7 (2.2) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||
Long term effect (12 months)/function | |||||||||
 Intra-articular | Malahias 2021 [32] | Q-DASH | 0-100 | 43 (27.6) | 20.4 (27.7) | 17 | 16 | NR | 0.24 (-0.84, 1.31) |
Bahadir 2009 [27] | Duruoz Hand Index | 0-90 | 21.1 (11.6) | 24.9 (13.4) | 20 | 20 | NR | ||