Quality Assessment Summary of Findings Risk of Bias Inconsistency Indirectness Imprecision Publication Bias Study Event Rates (%) Relative Effect CI) Estimation of Absolute Effects Time Frame No. of Studies With VKA With Dabi mg With VKA With Dabigatran CI) Quality of Evidence Death (critical outcome) median follow-up y RCT No serious limitations No serious inconsistency No serious indirectness Imprecise a Undetected RR per b fewer deaths per (from fewer to more) Moderate Nonfatal stroke (critical outcome) median follow-up y; ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage c RCT No serious limitations No serious inconsistency No serious indirectness Imprecise a Undetected d e RR CHADS points Moderate per f fewer strokes per (from fewer to more) CHADS point per fewer strokes per (from fewer to more) CHADS points per fewer strokes per (from fewer to more) CHADS points per fewer strokes per (from fewer to more) Nonfatal major extracranial bleeds (important outcome) median follow-up y g RCT No serious limitations No serious inconsistency No serious indirectness Imprecise a Undetected RR per h fewer bleeds per (from fewer to more) Moderate www.chestpubs.org CHEST / 141 / 2 / FEBRUARY, 2012 SUPPLEMENT e555S Table Quality Assessment Summary of Findings Risk of Bias Inconsistency Indirectness Imprecision Publication Bias Study Event Rates (%) Relative Effect CI) Estimation of Absolute Effects Time Frame No. of Studies With VKA With Dabi mg With VKA With Dabigatran CI) Quality of Evidence Systemic embolism (important outcome) median follow-up y RCT No serious limitations No serious inconsistency No serious indirectness Imprecise a Undetected RR per i fewer systemic emboli per (from fewer to more) Moderate Burden of treatment (important outcome) N/A No serious limitations No serious limitations No serious limitations No serious limitations N/A N/A N/A VKA . 