Nine RCTs (n=2,484) were included in the review.
Randomisation methods were not reported for the included RCTs, and none of these trials used blinding.
All 9 RCTs evaluated the incidence of DVT, though three were excluded from the meta-analysis since they had no incidence of DVT in either groups. GCS were more effective than no GCS in preventing DVT in the remaining 6 trials (RR 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.23, p<0.00001).
Eight studies (n=1,651) evaluated the incidence of SVT. Four RCTs reporting no incidence of SVT in either group were excluded from the meta-analysis. GCS were more effective than no GCS in preventing SVT in 3 of the 4 remaining trials (overall RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.87, p=0.4).
Intention-to-treat analysis of participants lost to follow-up or diagnosed with DVT or SVT (8 RCTs, n=1,772) favoured GCS over no GCS (RR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.72, p<0.0001).
GCS were more effective than no GCS in preventing DVT in 2 RCTs of participants at high risk of DVT (RR 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.34, p=0.0006).
GCS were more effective than no GCS in preventing DVT in 3 RCTs of participants at low-medium risk of DVT (RR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.79, p=0.03).