Method of data presentation in 144 reports of trials comparing two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
| Method of data presentation | Global evaluation | Pain | Number of tender joints | Grip strength |
| Usable reporting | ||||
| Numbers of patients in original ordered categories | 52 | 7 | ||
| Numbers in reduced ordered categories, at least 3 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Numbers in only 2 (reduced) ordered categories | 14 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Mean and SD, before and after treatment | 4 | 26 | 35 | 29 |
| Mean and SD before, mean after treatment | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Mean and SD after treatment | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| Mean change and SD for change | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Unusable reporting | ||||
| Mean before and after treatment, no SD | 8 | 26 | 46 | 44 |
| Mean after treatment, no SD | 6 | 1 | ||
| Mean change, no SD | 5 | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| Percentage change, no SD | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| Median and IQ2-150 range, before and after treatment | 1 | 2 | ||
| Median change and IQ range | 1 | |||
| Geometric mean percentage change, no SD | 3 | 4 | 1 | |
| Median change, no percentiles or SD | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Median before and after treatment, no centiles | 1 | |||
| No data shown | 20 | 13 | 6 | 21 |
| Total number of trials reporting the variable | 127 | 98 | 123 | 123 |
↵2-150 IQ = Interquartile.