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Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Medicación antimicótica oral para la onicomicosis de la uña del pie

Información

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010031.pub2Copiar DOI
Base de datos:
  1. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Versión publicada:
  1. 14 julio 2017see what's new
Tipo:
  1. Intervention
Etapa:
  1. Review
Grupo Editorial Cochrane:
  1. Grupo Cochrane de Piel

Copyright:
  1. Copyright © 2017 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Autores

  • Sanne Kreijkamp‐Kaspers

    Correspondencia a: Primary Care Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    [email protected]

  • Kate Hawke

    Primary Care Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

  • Linda Guo

    Primary Care Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

  • George Kerin

    Primary Care Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

  • Sally EM Bell‐Syer

    Cochrane Editorial Unit, Cochrane, London, UK

  • Parker Magin

    Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia

  • Sophie V Bell‐Syer

    Severn Deanery, Bristol, UK

  • Mieke L van Driel

    Primary Care Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Contributions of authors

SKK was the contact person with the editorial base.
SKK coordinated contributions from the co‐authors and wrote the final draft of the review.
SKK and KH screened papers against eligibility criteria.
SKK obtained data on ongoing and unpublished studies.
SKK, KH, GK, and LG appraised the quality of papers.
SKK, KH, GK, and LG extracted data for the review and sought additional information about papers.
SKK, KH, GK, and LG entered data into RevMan.
SKK and MVD analysed and interpreted data.
SKK, SB‐S and MVD wrote the Methods section.
SB‐S edited the protocol and the review.
SB‐S and MVD commented on all drafts and advised on methods and interpretation.
SKK drafted the clinical sections of the Background and responded to the clinical comments of the referees.
SKK and MVD responded to the methodology and statistics comments of the referees.
SVB‐S was the consumer co‐author and checked the review for readability and clarity, as well as ensuring outcomes are relevant to consumers.
SKK is the guarantor of the update.

Disclaimer

This project was supported by the National Institute for Health Research, via Cochrane Infrastructure funding to the Cochrane Skin Group. The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Systematic Reviews Programme, NIHR, NHS or the Department of Health.

Sources of support

Internal sources

  • No sources of support supplied

External sources

  • The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), UK.

    The NIHR, UK, is the largest single funder of the Cochrane Skin Group.

Declarations of interest

Sanne Kreijkamp‐Kaspers: none known.
Kate Hawke: none known.
Linda Guo: none known.
George Kerin: none known.
Sally EM Bell‐Syer: none known.
Parker Magin: none known.
Sophie V Bell‐Syer: none known.
Mieke L van Driel: none known.

Acknowledgements

The Cochrane Skin Group editorial base wishes to thank Sue Jessop who was the Key Editor for this review; Ben Carter and Esther van Zuuren, who were the Statistical and Methods Editors, respectively; and the clinical referees, Chinmanat Tangjaturonrusamee and Shari Lipner. We also thank Meggan Harris, who copy‐edited the review.

Some parts of the Background and Methods sections of this review use text that was originally written by author Sally Bell‐Syer for use in the original review protocol (Bell‐Syer 2004), which has now been withdrawn, and in other Cochrane reviews, in her role as Cochrane Review author or Managing Editor of the Cochrane Wounds Group.

Version history

Published

Title

Stage

Authors

Version

2017 Jul 14

Oral antifungal medication for toenail onychomycosis

Review

Sanne Kreijkamp‐Kaspers, Kate Hawke, Linda Guo, George Kerin, Sally EM Bell‐Syer, Parker Magin, Sophie V Bell‐Syer, Mieke L van Driel

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010031.pub2

2012 Aug 15

Oral antifungal medication for toenail onychomycosis

Protocol

Sanne Kreijkamp‐Kaspers, Sally EM Bell‐Syer, Parker Magin, Sophie V Bell‐Syer, Mieke L van Driel

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010031

Differences between protocol and review

The objectives in the Abstract and Main text have been changed from "To compare the benefits and harms of oral antifungal treatments for toenail onychomycosis'" to "To assess the effects of oral antifungal treatments for toenail onychomycosis" according to the Cochrane recommended format.

Types of studies: we clarified that we would included cross‐over trials in this review; however, we did not identify any.

Types of participants: we edited this from "Participants of all ages with toenail onychomycosis confirmed by positive cultures or confirmed fungal elements on direct microscopy or histological examination of the nail" to "Participants of all ages with toenail onychomycosis confirmed by at least one positive culture or confirmed fungal elements on direct microscopy or histological examination of the nail" to make the number of positive cultures needed clear.

Types of interventions: we added, "we did not consider dose‐finding studies of the same drug unless they also contained a placebo group" to clarify that we aimed to compare different medications, not different doses of the same medication.

Types of outcome measures: when measurements took place at multiple time points during the intervention, we consider the measurement at the predefined endpoint of the study as our primary outcome.

The secondary outcome measure "time to recurrence" was changed to recurrence rate. This is because none of the studies reported time to recurrence, and the review authors agreed to report a recurrence rate instead.

Searching other resources, 'Unpublished literature': in the protocol, we planned to contact further companies producing other products identified from trials, but we did not identify any.

Compared with the published protocol, there were some alterations in the tasks completed by review authors: the third review author acting as arbiter was MvD rather than SaBS; four review authors (SKK, LG, GK, KH) independently extracted data using a data extraction form rather than SKK and PM. Two review authors (SKK plus LG, GK or KH) independently assessed each included study using Cochrane's tool for assessing risk of bias rather than SKK and PM (Higgins 2011). We added authors to the review team after the publication of the protocol to reduce to workload in view of the large number of included studies. To ensure consistency, SKK was involved in the data extraction and 'Risk of bias' assessment of all included studies.

Data collection and analysis: we included six 'Summary of findings' tables for six comparisons, which included all of our primary and secondary outcomes. We also used the GRADE approach to assess the quality of all outcomes using the following five domains: risk of bias, inconsistency, imprecision, indirectness and publication bias. Quality of evidence could be either high, moderate, low, or very low (Higgins 2011; Schünemann 2013).

Measures of treatment effect: we were not able to present continuous data as mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference or overall effect size with standard deviations (SD) as planned in the protocol, because all data were presented as dichotomous.

Assessment of heterogeneity: we used a random‐effects model for all analyses instead of a fixed‐effect model when statistical heterogeneity was low, as in the absence of heterogeneity the random‐effects model would have similar results as a fixed‐effect model.

Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity: we conducted subgroup analyses based on short‐ and long‐term follow‐up, based on the notion that a toenail will need at least 12 months to fully grow out (Geyer 2004); this affects the assessment of clinical cure in particular. We could not perform the planned subgroups based on subtype of onychomycosis or underlying health conditions, as we did not identify trials looking at these subgroups specifically.

Keywords

MeSH

PICO

Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome

El uso y la enseñanza del modelo PICO están muy extendidos en el ámbito de la atención sanitaria basada en la evidencia para formular preguntas y estrategias de búsqueda y para caracterizar estudios o metanálisis clínicos. PICO son las siglas en inglés de cuatro posibles componentes de una pregunta de investigación: paciente, población o problema; intervención; comparación; desenlace (outcome).

Para saber más sobre el uso del modelo PICO, puede consultar el Manual Cochrane.

Study flow diagram.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 1

Study flow diagram.

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 2

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Funnel plot of comparison: 3 Azole versus terbinafine, outcome: 3.1 Clinical cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 3

Funnel plot of comparison: 3 Azole versus terbinafine, outcome: 3.1 Clinical cure.

Funnel plot of comparison: 3 Azole versus terbinafine, outcome: 3.2 Mycological cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 4

Funnel plot of comparison: 3 Azole versus terbinafine, outcome: 3.2 Mycological cure.

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.1

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.2

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 3 Adverse events.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.3

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 3 Adverse events.

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.4

Comparison 1 Azole versus terbinafine, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.1

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.2

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 3 Adverse events.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.3

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 3 Adverse events.

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.4

Comparison 2 Terbinafine versus placebo, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.1

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.2

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 3 Adverse events.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.3

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 3 Adverse events.

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.4

Comparison 3 Azole versus placebo, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 4.1

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 4.2

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 3 Adverse events.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 4.3

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 3 Adverse events.

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 4.4

Comparison 4 Griseofulvin versus azole, Outcome 4 Recurrence rate.

Comparison 5 Griseofulvin versus terbinafine, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 5.1

Comparison 5 Griseofulvin versus terbinafine, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.

Comparison 5 Griseofulvin versus terbinafine, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 5.2

Comparison 5 Griseofulvin versus terbinafine, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.

Comparison 5 Griseofulvin versus terbinafine, Outcome 3 Adverse events.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 5.3

Comparison 5 Griseofulvin versus terbinafine, Outcome 3 Adverse events.

Comparison 6 Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 6.1

Comparison 6 Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy, Outcome 1 Clinical cure.

Comparison 6 Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 6.2

Comparison 6 Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy, Outcome 2 Mycological cure.

Comparison 6 Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy, Outcome 3 Adverse events.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 6.3

Comparison 6 Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy, Outcome 3 Adverse events.

Summary of findings for the main comparison. Azole compared to terbinafine for toenail onychomycosis

Azole compared to terbinafine for toenail onychomycosis

Patient or population: participants with confirmed toenail onychomycosis
Setting: outpatients clinics
Intervention: azole
Comparison: terbinafine

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

№ of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Risk with terbinafine

Risk with azole

Clinical cure

Study population

RR 0.82
(0.72 to 0.95)

2168
(15 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderatea

575 per 1000

471 per 1000
(414 to 546)

Mycological cure

Study population

RR 0.77
(0.68 to 0.88)

2544
(17 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderatea

682 per 1000

525 per 1000
(464 to 600)

Adverse events

Study population

RR 1.00
(0.86 to 1.17)

1762
(9 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderateb

346 per 1000

346 per 1000
(298 to 405)

Recurrence rate

Study population

RR 1.11
(0.68 to 1.79)

282
(5 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowc

333 per 1000

370 per 1000
(227 to 597)

Quality of life

None of the studies addressed quality of life.

*The risk in the intervention group (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; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RR: risk ratio.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

aDowngraded by one level for risk of bias because of large number of unblinded studies, lack of description of randomisation process and allocation concealment for most studies.
bDowngraded by one level for risk of bias (large number of unblinded studies, lack of description of randomisation process and allocation concealment for most studies).
cDowngraded by two levels for risk of bias (large number of unblinded studies, lack of description of randomisation process and allocation concealment for most studies) and imprecision (small numbers of participants in this comparison).

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings for the main comparison. Azole compared to terbinafine for toenail onychomycosis
Summary of findings 2. Terbinafine compared to placebo for toenail onychomycosis

Terbinafine compared to placebo for toenail onychomycosis

Patient or population: patients with confirmed toenail onychomycosis
Setting: outpatient clinics
Intervention: terbinafine
Comparison: placebo

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

№ of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Risk with placebo

Risk with terbinafine

Clinical cure

Study population

RR 6.00
(3.96 to 9.08)

1006
(8 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
Higha

62 per 1000

370 per 1000
(244 to 560)

Mycological cure

Study population

RR 4.53
(2.47 to 8.33)

1006
(8 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
Higha

167 per 1000

755 per 1000
(412 to 1000)

Adverse events

Study population

RR 1.13
(0.87 to 1.47)

399
(4 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderateb

429 per 1000

484 per 1000
(373 to 630)

Recurrence rate

667 per 1000

33 per 1000

(7 to 253)

RR 0.05

(0.01 to 0.38)

35
(1 RCT)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowc

Quality of life

Not addressed by any of the trials

*The risk in the intervention group (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; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RR: risk ratio.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

aLarge number of unblinded studies and studies with poor description of blinding and randomisation but large effect estimate; therefore, this outcome was not downgraded for risk of bias as the quality of evidence was considered to be high because of the large effect observed.
bDowngraded by one level due to risk of bias (randomisation and blinding was poorly described in most studies).
cDowngraded by two levels due to poor description of randomisation and blinding as well as due to selective follow‐up and only single study with small number of participants.

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 2. Terbinafine compared to placebo for toenail onychomycosis
Summary of findings 3. Azole compared to placebo for toenail onychomycosis

Azole compared to placebo for toenail onychomycosis

Patient or population: participants with confirmed toenail onychomycosis
Setting: outpatient clinics
Intervention: azole
Comparison: placebo

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

№ of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Risk with placebo

Risk with azole

Clinical cure

Study population

RR 22.18

(12.63 to 38.95)

3440
(9 studies)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
Higha

14 per 1000

309 per 1000

(176 to 543)

Mycological cure

Study population

RR 5.86
(3.23 to 10.62)

3440
(9 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
Higha

74 per 1000

431 per 1000
(237 to 781)

Adverse events

Study population

RR 1.04
(0.97 to 1.12)

3441
(9 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderateb

537 per 1000

559 per 1000
(521 to 602)

Recurrence rate

Study population

RR 0.55

(0.29 to 1.07)

26

(1 RCT)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowc

1000 per 1000

550 per 1000

(290 to 1000)

Quality of life

None of the studies addressed quality of life.

*The risk in the intervention group (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; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RR: risk ratio.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

aLarge number of unblinded studies and studies with poor description of blinding and randomisation, but large effect estimate; therefore, this outcome was not downgraded for risk of bias as the quality of evidence was considered to be high because of the large effect observed.
bDowngraded by one level because of risk of bias (high number of unblinded studies and studies with poor description of blinding and randomisation).
cDowngraded by two levels due to poor description of randomisation and blinding as well as selective follow‐up and only single study with small number of participants.

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 3. Azole compared to placebo for toenail onychomycosis
Summary of findings 4. Griseofulvin compared to azole for toenail onychomycosis

Griseofulvin compared to azole for toenail onychomycosis

Patient or population: participants with confirmed toenail onychomycosis
Setting: outpatient clinics
Intervention: griseofulvin
Comparison: azole

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

№ of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Risk with azole

Risk with griseofulvin

Clinical cure

Study population

RR 0.94
(0.45 to 1.96)

222
(5 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderatea

144 per 1000

136 per 1000
(65 to 283)

Mycological cure

Study population

RR 0.87
(0.50 to 1.51)

222
(5 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderatea

186 per 1000

161 per 1000
(93 to 280)

Adverse events

Study population

RR 2.41
(1.56 to 3.73)

143
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
Moderateb

276 per 1000

665 per 1000
(430 to 1000)

Recurrence rate

Study population

RR 4.00
(0.26 to 61.76)

7
(1 RCT)

⊕⊝⊝⊝
Very lowc

0 per 1000

0 per 1000
(0 to 0)

Quality of life

None of the studies addressed quality of life.

*The risk in the intervention group (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; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RR: risk ratio.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

aDowngraded by one level due to risk of bias (about half of the studies were not blinded).
bDowngraded by one level due to risk of bias (two unblinded studies; neither participants nor outcome assessors were blinded).
cDowngraded by three levels due to risk of bias (single study; neither participants nor outcome assessors were blinded) and imprecision (two levels due to single study, low number of participants and wide confidence intervals).

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 4. Griseofulvin compared to azole for toenail onychomycosis
Summary of findings 5. Griseofulvin compared to terbinafine for toenail onychomycosis

Griseofulvin compared to terbinafine for toenail onychomycosis

Patient or population: participants with confirmed toenail onychomycosis
Setting: outpatient clinics
Intervention: griseofulvin
Comparison: terbinafine

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

№ of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Risk with terbinafine

Risk with Griseofulvin

Clinical cure

Study population

RR 0.32
(0.14 to 0.72)

270
(4 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowa

561 per 1000

179 per 1000
(78 to 404)

Mycological cure

Study population

RR 0.64
(0.46 to 0.90)

465
(5 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowa

716 per 1000

458 per 1000
(329 to 645)

Adverse events

Study population

RR 2.09
(1.15 to 3.82)

100
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowb

160 per 1000

334 per 1000
(184 to 611)

Recurrence rate

No studies addressed recurrence rate.

Quality of life

No studies addressed quality of life.

*The risk in the intervention group (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; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RR: risk ratio.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

aDowngraded by two levels due to risk of bias (two studies not blinded; other studies at unclear risk for blinding of participant and outcome assessor).
bDowngraded by two levels due to risk of bias (two levels: one unblinded study; one study at unclear risk of bias for blinding or participants and outcome assessor).

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 5. Griseofulvin compared to terbinafine for toenail onychomycosis
Summary of findings 6. Combination terbinafine plus azole compared to terbinafine monotherapy for toenail onychomycosis

Combination terbinafine plus azole compared to terbinafine monotherapy for toenail onychomycosis

Patient or population: participants with confirmed toenail onychomycosis
Setting: outpatient clinics
Intervention: combination terbinafine plus azole
Comparison: terbinafine monotherapy

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

№ of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Risk with terbinafine monotherapy

Risk with combination terbinafine plus azole

Clinical cure

Study population

RR 1.41

(1.01 to 1.97)

176
(1 RCT)

⊕⊝⊝⊝
Very lowa

368 per 1000

519 per 1000

(732 to 726)

Mycological cure

Study population

RR 1.41

(1.08 to 1.83)

176
(1 RCT)

⊕⊝⊝⊝
Very lowa

474 per 1000

668 per 1000
(512 to 867)

Adverse events

Study population

RR 0.64
(0.34 to 1.21)

176
(1 RCT)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
Lowb

232 per 1000

148 per 1000
(79 to 280)

Recurrence rate

No studies addressed recurrence rate.

Quality of life

No studies addressed quality of life.

*The risk in the intervention group (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; RCT: randomised controlled trial; RR: risk ratio.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

aDowngraded by three levels due to risk of bias (two levels: single non‐blinded study) and imprecision (single study).
bDowngraded by two levels due to risk of bias (single non‐blinded study) and imprecision (single study)

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 6. Combination terbinafine plus azole compared to terbinafine monotherapy for toenail onychomycosis
Comparison 1. Azole versus terbinafine

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Clinical cure Show forest plot

15

2168

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.82 [0.72, 0.95]

1.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

6

911

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.86 [0.77, 0.96]

1.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

9

1257

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.80 [0.63, 1.00]

2 Mycological cure Show forest plot

17

2544

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.77 [0.68, 0.88]

2.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

8

1287

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.77 [0.64, 0.93]

2.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

9

1257

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.78 [0.64, 0.95]

3 Adverse events Show forest plot

9

1762

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.00 [0.86, 1.17]

4 Recurrence rate Show forest plot

5

282

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.11 [0.68, 1.79]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 1. Azole versus terbinafine
Comparison 2. Terbinafine versus placebo

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Clinical cure Show forest plot

8

1006

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

6.00 [3.96, 9.08]

1.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

6

800

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

5.60 [3.66, 8.55]

1.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

2

206

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

26.01 [3.69, 183.44]

2 Mycological cure Show forest plot

8

1006

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

4.53 [2.47, 8.33]

2.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

6

800

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

4.60 [2.26, 9.36]

2.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

2

206

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

7.79 [0.42, 144.44]

3 Adverse events Show forest plot

4

399

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.13 [0.87, 1.47]

4 Recurrence rate Show forest plot

1

35

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.05 [0.01, 0.38]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 2. Terbinafine versus placebo
Comparison 3. Azole versus placebo

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Clinical cure Show forest plot

9

3440

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

22.18 [12.63, 38.95]

1.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

7

2695

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

23.89 [11.99, 47.64]

1.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

2

745

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

19.11 [7.21, 50.65]

2 Mycological cure Show forest plot

9

3440

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

5.86 [3.23, 10.62]

2.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

7

2695

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

7.05 [2.91, 17.07]

2.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

2

745

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

4.22 [2.34, 7.59]

3 Adverse events Show forest plot

9

3441

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.04 [0.97, 1.12]

4 Recurrence rate Show forest plot

1

26

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.55 [0.29, 1.07]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 3. Azole versus placebo
Comparison 4. Griseofulvin versus azole

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Clinical cure Show forest plot

5

222

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.94 [0.45, 1.96]

1.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

2

60

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.89 [0.32, 2.45]

1.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

3

162

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.00 [0.34, 2.93]

2 Mycological cure Show forest plot

5

222

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.87 [0.50, 1.51]

2.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

2

60

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.96 [0.52, 1.76]

2.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

3

162

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.58 [0.16, 2.10]

3 Adverse events Show forest plot

2

143

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

2.41 [1.56, 3.73]

4 Recurrence rate Show forest plot

1

7

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

4.0 [0.26, 61.76]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 4. Griseofulvin versus azole
Comparison 5. Griseofulvin versus terbinafine

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Clinical cure Show forest plot

4

270

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.32 [0.14, 0.72]

1.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

1

89

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.05 [0.01, 0.39]

1.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

3

181

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.51 [0.36, 0.71]

2 Mycological cure Show forest plot

5

465

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.64 [0.46, 0.90]

2.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

2

284

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.70 [0.40, 1.20]

2.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

3

181

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.48 [0.21, 1.09]

3 Adverse events Show forest plot

2

100

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

2.09 [1.15, 3.82]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 5. Griseofulvin versus terbinafine
Comparison 6. Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Clinical cure Show forest plot

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

1.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

1.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

0

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

2 Mycological cure Show forest plot

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

2.1 Short‐term follow‐up (≤ 52 weeks)

0

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

2.2 Long‐term follow‐up (> 52 weeks)

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.0 [0.0, 0.0]

3 Adverse events Show forest plot

1

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Totals not selected

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 6. Combination terbinafine plus azole versus terbinafine monotherapy