Centrally acting antiadrenergic (versus unexposed) updated on 03-11-2025

Low birth weight (< 2500g)

R analysis
id Study   Lib. in paper Exposition period    Study type 
 Control type 
 
Tags OR 95%CI x1/n1 x0/n0 no cases no exposed ROB Ref.
S17154
R71946		 Vaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 Low birth weight during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort retrospective unexposed, disease free Adjustment: No Indications Antihypertensive: All hypertensions, any indications or not specified 1.74 [1.64;1.86] -/1,043   -/66,393 - 1,043
ref
S13508
R52188		 Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2020 Low birth weight (<2500 g) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) unexposed, disease free excluded Adjustment: Yes Indications Antihypertensive: All hypertensions, any indications or not specified 1.50 [0.56;4.00]
excluded (control group) 		19/136   11,051/250,693 11,070 136
ref
S14423
R57254		 Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020 Low birth weight (<2500 g) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) unexposed, sick Adjustment: No Indications Antihypertensive: All hypertensions, any indications or not specified 1.46 [0.90;2.39] C 19/136   797/7,971 816 136
ref
S13479
R51991		 Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013 Low birthweight (< 2500 g) 3rd trimester retrospective cohort (claims database) unexposed, disease free Adjustment: Yes Indications Antihypertensive: All hypertensions, any indications or not specified 3.77 [2.89;4.94] 84/340   10,001/97,820 10,085 340
ref
S13450
R51814		 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2013 Low birth weight (< 2,500 gm) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort retrospective unexposed, disease free excluded Adjustment: No Indications Antihypertensive: Only chronic hypertension indication 4.30 [2.92;6.32] C
excluded (control group) 		34/181   418/8,181 452 181
ref
S13444
R51796		 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Low birth weight (< 2,500 gm) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort retrospective unexposed, sick Adjustment: Yes Indications Antihypertensive: Only chronic hypertension indication 2.88 [1.85;4.49] 34/181   76/1,006 110 181
ref
Total 4 studies 2.31 [1.45;3.66] 11,011 1,700
x1: number of endpoints among exposed, n1: number of exposed; x0: number of endpoints among non exposed, n0: number of non exposed; C: calculated odds ratio from numbers of events and effectives

Forest plot

StudyTE95% CIn casesn exposedweightROBABCDEF Vaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024Vaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 1.74[1.64; 1.86]-1,04329%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: unclearROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: unclear Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020Fitton - Centrally acting, 2020 1 1.46[0.90; 2.39]81613622%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: lowROB classification: criticalROB missing: moderateROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013 3.77[2.89; 4.94]10,08534026%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: lowROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013Su - Centrally acting, 2013 2 2.88[1.85; 4.49]11018123%ROB confusion: seriousROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: unclearROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Total (4 studies) I2 = 91% 2.31[1.45; 3.66]11,0111,7000.510.01.0ROB: A: confusion, B: selection, C: classification, D: missing, E: measurement, F: reportinglow,moderate,serious,critical,unclear,

1: Controls unexposed, sick; 2: Controls unexposed, sick;

Sensitivity analysis

SubsetTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2 Type of studies cohort studiescohort studies 2.31[1.45; 3.66]11,0111,70091%NAVaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020 Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 4 case control studiescase control studies 0 Type of controls unexposed (disease free or unspecified)unexposed (disease free or unspecified) 2.53[1.19; 5.40]10,0851,38397%NAVaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013 2 unexposed, sickunexposed, sick 2.07[1.06; 4.02]92631775%NAFitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 2 Tags Adjustment   - No  - No 1.74[1.63; 1.85]8161,1790%NAVaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020 2   - Yes  - Yes 3.50[2.76; 4.43]10,1955214%NAOrbach - Methyldopa, 2013 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 2 Indications Antihypertensive   - All hypertensions, any indications ...  - All hypertensions, any indications or not specified 2.16[1.23; 3.78]10,9011,51994%NAVaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020 Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013 3   - Only chronic hypertension indication  - Only chronic hypertension indication 2.88[1.85; 4.49]110181 -NASu - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 1 All studiesAll studies 2.31[1.45; 3.66]11,0111,70091%NAVaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020 Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 40.510.01.0

Publication bias and p-hacking diagnosis

funnel plot
0.0-1.61.60.3000.000Vaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013

Asymetry test p-value = NaN (by Egger's regression)

not enought points

p values plot
0.01.00.01.0

Sub-groups analysis using all included studies

excluded 13450, 13508

Sub-groupsTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2ROB type of controls unexposed controls (disease free or unspecified)unexposed controls (disease free or unspecified) 2.68[1.50; 4.78]21,6071,70094%NAVaclavik - Methyldopa, 2024 Fitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2020 Orbach - Methyldopa, 2013 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2013 4 unexposed, sick controlsunexposed, sick controls 2.07[1.06; 4.02]92631775%NAFitton - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2020 Su - Centrally acting (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 20.510.01.0