Ibuprofen versus acetaminophen for acute mild-to-moderate pain management in pediatric populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of their efficacy.
Gian Luigi Marseglia, Paola Giovanna Marchisio, Gregorio Paolo Milani et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the analgesic efficacy of ibuprofen versus acetaminophen in pediatric populations with acute mild-to-moderate pain. Analyzing eight randomized controlled trials with 1325 participants, the study found a pooled standardized mean difference of -0.28 favoring ibuprofen, which did not reach statistical significance (p=0.052). The overall evidence was rated as low certainty.
Key findings
- Pooled SMD of -0.28 (95% CI -0.57 to 0.00; p=0.052) indicates a small effect favoring ibuprofen.
- No significant difference in pain freedom was observed (pooled RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.53-1.99; p=0.93).
- Overall certainty of evidence was rated as low due to imprecision and indirectness.
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative efficacy of ibuprofen and acetaminophen is crucial for optimizing pain management in pediatric patients. Clinicians must consider individual patient factors when choosing between these analgesics.