Decimal places

Odds ratios, risk ratios, and standardized mean differences should usually be quoted to two decimal places.

For very large or very small values, use judgement to determine whether fewer or more decimal places should be used to express the appropriate level of precision.

12.26

12.3

Decimal points

Use full stops, not commas.

15.51

15,51

Equals sign

For values that are represented by a mathematical symbol (e.g. P and I²) use an equal sign and do not include the word "value" when used to present a value. For terms that are represented as abbreviations (e.g. RR, OR, MD) do not use an equals sign.

Note: an equals sign should have a single space on either side of it.

P = 0.015

I² = 20%

RR 0.05

P value = 0.015
P 0.015

I² 20%

RR value 0.05
RR = 0.05
RR=0.05

Mathematical equations

Avoid building equations or formulae spaced over two or more lines in the text of the review, as text formatting will change during publication process.

2 = 10/5

      10
2 = ---
       5

Use spaces either sides of '-', '+', and '=' symbols in mathematical equations.

See also: Guidance on spacing around commonly used symbols

SE = sqrt((1/r1) + (1/(n1 − r1)) + (1/r2) + (1/(n2 − r2)))

SE = sqrt((1/r1)+(1/(n1−r1)) +(1/r2)+(1/(n2−r2)))

Number needed to treat (NNT)

Express all NNTs as positive whole numbers, all decimals being rounded up.

Use NNTB (number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome) and NNTH (number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome) in preference to NNT. (Authors may use NNT as long as the corresponding direction of effect is clear in the related paragraphs and sections.)

NNTB or NNTH

NNTB 10

NNH

NNTB 10.5

P values should be stated exactly, apart from values less than 0.001, which should be expressed as P < 0.001.

P = 0.03

P < 0.001

P < 0.05

P = 0.0005

We calculated the P value.

P = 0.05

We calculated P.

P value = 0.05

Use an upper-case ‘P’ (not italic), and do not add hyphen between the ‘P’ and the value

P value

p value

P value

P-value

p-value

P values should be expressed with two significant figures and up to three decimal places.

P = 0.23

P = 0.051

P = 0.003

P = 0.001

P = 0.232

P = 0.05

P = 0.0025

P = 1.3 x 10^-3

Sample and population sizes

For dichotomous outcomes, use the headings n/N within each intervention arm, where n denotes the number of events and N is the sample size. It is preferable to standardize the use of n/N for these where possible.

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Summary statistic and confidence interval

Only use abbreviations for summary statistics (e.g. RR or MD) and confidence interval (CI) if they have already been defined (see Abbreviations and acronyms for further guidance).

The risk ratio (RR) was 0.38 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 0.49)

—

Separate the summary statistic from its CI using a comma when presented inside a single set of brackets.

…was statistically significant (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.38)

—

Define the CI (e.g. 95% or 99%).

(odds ratio 1.11, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.20)

(odds ratio 1.11, CI 0.98 to 1.20)

Separate the CIs with ‘to’ instead of using a hyphen.

(mean difference −11.11 hours, 95% CI −20.04 to −2.18)

(mean difference −11.11 hours; 95% CI −20.04- −2.18)

Where multiple pieces of information are presented within a bracket, use this order and punctuation:

Focused-format reviews
(summary statistic, CI; P value, I²; number of studies, number of participants; level of evidence; link to Figure or state Analysis number).

Long-format reviews
(summary statistic, CI; P value, I²; number of studies, number of participants; level of evidence; link to Analysis).

Note: it is permissible to use numerals for numbers under 10 in results brackets.

Note: it is not necessary to include all these parameters for every result.

(MD −11.11 hours, 95% CI −20.04 to −2.18; P = 0.01, I² = 20%; 6 studies, 3011 participants; moderate-certainty evidence; Figure 1)

(MD −11.11 hours, 95% CI −20.04 to −2.18; P = 0.01, I² = 20%; 6 studies, 3011 participants; moderate-certainty evidence; Analysis 10.1)