Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33589446›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2021

Different doses of prucalopride in treating chronic idiopathic constipation: a meta-analysis and Bayesian analysis.

Tao Yang, Kaili Wang, Yibo Cao, Jianxia Wen, Shizhang Wei, Haotian Li, Xiangdong Yang, Tianbao Xiao

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. [Seoul Consensus on Clinical Practice Guidelines for Functional Constipation].The Korean journal of gastroenterology = Taehan Sohwagi Hakhoe chi · 2025
    Guideline
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Tao YangCollege of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5787-2542
Kaili WangChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Yibo CaoThe First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang City, China.
Jianxia WenChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Shizhang Wei *5th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Fengtai-Qu, China.
Haotian Li *5th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Fengtai-Qu, China.
Xiangdong YangChengdu Anorectal Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Tianbao XiaoGuizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang City, China prof_xiaotianbao@163.com.
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CNChinese PLA General Hospital · CNAffiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University · CNChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College · CNGuiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CNShenyang Anorectal Hospital · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aims to explore the incremental benefit of different doses of prucalopride in treating chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

methodsPubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP medicine information and Wanfang databases were comprehensively searched up to March 2020. Prospective trials with different doses of prucalopride versus placebo were selected. The frequency of spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) per week and the treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), such as headache, arrhythmia, diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, were first synthesised in a meta-analysis. The probability of optimal dose of prucalopride was then ranked by random-effects within Bayesian analysis.

results14 high-quality randomised controlled trials with 4328 patients were ultimately included. SBMs per week increased significantly after using 1 mg (OR: 2.40, 95% CI 1.32 to 4.37), 2 mg (OR: 2.55, 95% CI 1.93 to 3.36) and 4 mg (OR: 2.51, 95% CI 1.92 to 3.28) prucalopride. Bayesian analysis demonstrated 1 mg dose obtained the maximum SBMs per week (OR: 3.31, 95% credible interval 1.72 to 6.16, probability rank=0.70) indirectly compared with 2 mg and 4 mg doses. TEAEs were higher significantly in 2 mg (risk ratio (RR): 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.33) and 4 mg (RR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.22) prucalopride. The 1 mg dose did not reach statistical significance (RR: 1.17, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.44).

conclusionsThe study concludes that 1 mg dose at commencement could be safer in treating CIC and that 2 mg prucalopride could be more efficacious in terms of SBMs per week outcome receiving. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019136679.

Indexed as

ConstipationBayes TheoremBenzofuransChinaHumansProspective StudiesRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicBenzofuransprucalopridefunctional bowel disordersgastroenterologymotility disorders

Identifiers

PMID33589446
PMCPMC7887359
OpenAlexW3130886477

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.