From: S-carboxymethylcysteine in the treatment of glue ear: quantitative systematic review
 |  | Number/Total (%) improved |  |  |  |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Results by: | Number | with | with | Relative benefit | NNT |
 | of | S-CMC | placebo | (95% CI) | (95% CI) |
 | studies |  |  |  |  |
Children | 4 | 54/14 | 30/140 | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.4) | 6.1 (3.7 to 17) |
 |  | (38) | (21) |  |  |
Ears | 3 | 23/77 | 5/69 | 3.8 (1.6 to 9.1) | 4.4 (2.9 to 9.3) |
 |  | (30) | (7) |  |  |
Combined | 7 | 77/220 | 35/209 | 2.0 (1.4 to 2.8) | 5.5 (3.8 to 9.8) |
 |  | (35) | (17) |  |  |
Sensitivity analysis (ears or children) | |||||
Quality score ≥3 | 4 | 44/153 | 21/153 | 2.1 (1.3 to 3.3) | 6.7 (4.2 to 17) |
Quality score ≤2 | 3 | 33/67 | 14/56 | 1.9 (1.2 to 3.1) | 4.1 (2.5 to 13) |
Validity score >8 | 3 | 38/123 | 23/120 | 1.5 (0.96 to 2.3) | 8.5 (4.4 to 105) |
Validity score ≤7 | 4 | 39/97 | 12/89 | 3.0 (1.7 to 5.1) | 3.7 (2.6 to 6.8) |
Intention-to-treat | 4 | 53/164 | 22/171 | 2.5 (1.6 to 3.9) | 5.1 (3.6 to 9.3) |
Per protocol | 3 | 24/56 | 13/38 | 1.3 (0.75 to 2.2) | 11.6 (3.5 to -8.9) |
More than 50 in | 2 | 33/124 | 14/131 | 2.5 (1.4 to 4.5) | 6.3 (4.0 to 15) |
total | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Fewer than 50 | 5 | 44/96 | 21/78 | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.6) | 5.3 (3.0 to 20) |
total | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |