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 Serious imprecision 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 No serious imprecision Undetected d e RR CHADS points High per f fewer strokes per (from fewer to fewer) CHADS point per fewer strokes per (from fewer to fewer) CHADS points per fewer strokes per (from fewer to fewer) CHADS points per fewer strokes per (from fewer to fewer) 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 more bleed per (from fewer to more) Moderate 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 www.chestpubs.org CHEST / 141 / 2 / FEBRUARY, 2012 SUPPLEMENT e553S 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 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 . 