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Table 2 Methodological aspects of recent major guidelines for hypertension

From: Methods underpinning national clinical guidelines for hypertension: describing the evidence shortfall

Guideline

Development group describeda

New systematic reviewing

Used existing systematic reviewsc

Literature searchb

Grading of evidenced

Grading of recommendationsd

CMA

P

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

WHO

P

N

Y

N

N

N

VHA

P

N

N

Y

Y

Y

SIGN

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

ESH

Y

N

Y

N

N

N

ICSI

N

N

y

N

Y

N

JNC

P

N

Y

N

Y

N

SA

P

N

y

N

N

N

BHS

P

N

Y

N

Y

Y

NICE

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

  1. a Y/N: Includes/does not include description of stakeholders involved in the development process, including patient representatives and any conflicts of interest.
  2. P: Partially – a list of names with institutional affiliations was provided.
  3. b Y/N: Searches were/were not undertaken, at least through Medline.
  4. c Y: Made extensive use of existing systematic reviews (referenced 7 or more).
  5. y: Made partial use of existing systematic reviews (referenced 6 or less).
  6. N: Did not use existing systematic reviews.
  7. d Y/N: Reports/does not report explicit grading of the quality of the supporting evidence/recommendations.