Authors, year of publication | Measures of treatment efficacy | Source of study materials | Study design | Main findings | Strengths | Weaknesses | Risk of bias |
Khan et al, 201031 | Failure, relapse | Multiple countries | Systematic review and meta-analysis* | Compared with partially intermittent treatment with daily initial phase, thrice-weekly treatment throughout was associated with higher rates of failure (adjusted RR 4.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 10.4) and relapse (adjusted RR 4.8, 95% CI 1.8 to 12.8). | The study clearly addressed a focused question with good coverage on methodology and assessment of study quality. Literature search was sufficiently rigorous. | There was considerable heterogeneity across studies. | Low |
Nahid et al, 200732 | Relapse | USA | Retrospective cohort analysis | Compared with daily treatment, intermittent treatment was associated with relapse (adjusted HR 4.12, 95% CI 1.09 to 15.6). | The study clearly addressed a focused question in a well-defined cohort with well-covered comparison between participants and those lost to follow-up. Outcomes were clearly defined with reliable assessment of exposure. Main potential confounders were considered. CIs were provided. | Assessment of outcome was not blind. | Low |
Li et al, 200533 | Relapse, acquired rifamycin resistance | USA | Retrospective cohort analysis | Intermittent compared with daily treatment in the initial phase significantly increased the risk of relapse and acquired rifamycin resistance (HR for relapse 6.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 40.1; HR for acquired rifamycin resistance 6.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 38.4). | The study clearly addressed a focused question in a well-defined cohort. Outcomes were clearly defined, with reliable assessment of exposure. Main potential confounders were considered. CIs were provided. | Assessment of outcome was not blind. No comparison was made between participants and those lost to follow-up. | Low |
↵* Articles identified by the literature search and included in systematic reviews identified by the current review are shown in appendix 3 in the online supplement.