Supplemental digital content -Table 1. Meta-regression testing the similarity of network meta-analysis.

Supplemental digital content -Table 1. Meta-regression testing the similarity of network meta-analysis.

Ulcer complications Symptomatic ulcer Endoscopic ulcer

Regression coefficient, Mean(95%CI);P-value

Regression coefficient, Mean(95%CI);P-value

Regression coefficient, Mean(95%CI);P-value

Average age 0.01(-0.09, 0.11); 0.44 -0.02(-0.19, 0.16); 0.57 0.00(-0.09, 0.11); 0.48 Proportion of females 1.16(-12.44, 14.24); 0.45 -2.90(-11.87, 6.38); 0.68 -0.03(-3.95, 4.20); 0.50 Proportion of patients with

previous peptic ulcers

-2.49(-7.84, 2.63); 0.76 -15.05(-50.66, 21.41); 0.73 NA

Follow-up time 0.01(-0.03, 0.06); 0.35 -0.07(-0.20, 0.05); 0.78 0.00(-0.01, 0.01); 0.65

CI: confidence Interval;

NA: not available

Supplemental digital content -Table 2. Sensitivity analyses of coxibs versus relatively selective COX-2 inhibitors according to sample size and study quality.

Study Participant RR(95%CI) Ulcer complications

Sample size Study quality Ulcer complications Sample size Study quality Ulcer complications Sample size Study quality

Supplemental digital content -Table 2. Sensitivity analyses of coxibs versus relatively selective cyclooxygenase -2 inhibitors.

Study Participant RR(95%CI) Ulcer complications

Sample size^a 18 59,658 1.58(0.31, 4.34)

Study quality^b 17 59,068 1.12(0.32, 2.87)

Diclofenac^c 14 36,192 1.68(0.41, 4.90)

Symptomatic ulcer

Sample size^a 14 34,932 1.11(0.08, 4.65)

Study quality^b 14 30,551 1.05(0.09, 4.21)

Diclofenac^c 12 24,234 1.36(0.07, 6.40)

Endoscopic ulcer

Sample size^a 7 3373 1.14(0.26, 2.95)

Study quality^b 10 3048 1.23(0.36, 3.40)

Diclofenac^c 10 3136 0.97(0.09, 2.53)

a. Sensitivity analysis by removing studies with a sample size <100;

b. Sensitivity analysis by removing studies with a Jadad score < 3;

c. Sensitivity analysis by rem oving studies comparing diclofenac with coxibs or relatively selective COX-2 inhibitors

RR: risk ratio; CI: confidence interval