Results of subgroup analyses
Subgroups | Studies, n | Patients, n | Patients, n | Effect estimate | Heterogeneity | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PERT | Baseline or placebo | WMD/OR (95% CI) | p Value | I2 (%) | p Value | ||
PERT vs baseline | |||||||
CFA | |||||||
High-quality studies | 5 | 172 | 174 | 1.78 (0.85 to 2.70) | 0.0002 | 92 | <0.00001 |
Parallel designed | 5 | 115 | 115 | 2.47 (1.42 to 3.52) | <0.00001 | 89 | <0.00001 |
Multicentre studies | 4 | 140 | 140 | 2.13 (0.84 to 3.43) | 0.001 | 94 | <0.00001 |
Sample size ≥40 | 4 | 160 | 160 | 1.26 (0.51 to 2.00) | 0.001 | 88 | <0.00001 |
Western population | 10 | 196 | 197 | 1.17 (0.94 to 1.40) | <0.00001 | 90 | <0.00001 |
FFE | |||||||
High-quality studies | 5 | 172 | 174 | −1.44 (−2.18 to −0.71) | <0.0001 | 88 | <0.00001 |
Parallel designed | 5 | 115 | 117 | −1.66 (−2.19 to −1.13) | <0.00001 | 85 | <0.00001 |
Multicentre studies | 4 | 140 | 142 | −1.67 (−2.67 to −0.66) | 0.001 | 91 | <0.00001 |
Sample size ≥40 | 4 | 160 | 162 | −1.06 (−1.61 to −0.50) | 0.0002 | 80 | 0.002 |
Western population | 12 | 246 | 247 | −1.70 (−2.29 to −1.12) | <0.00001 | 85 | <0.00001 |
PERT vs placebo | |||||||
CFA | |||||||
High-quality studies | 5 | 103 | 94 | 1.41 (0.51 to 2.31) | 0.002 | 86 | <0.00001 |
Parallel designed | 5 | 107 | 97 | 2.03 (0.90 to 3.17) | 0.0005 | 90 | <0.00001 |
Multicentre studies | 3 | 68 | 66 | 2.16 (0.85 to 3.48) | 0.001 | 88 | 0.0003 |
Sample size ≥40 | 3 | 80 | 69 | 0.96 (0.28 to 1.64) | 0.006 | 74 | 0.02 |
Western population | 6 | 92 | 90 | 1.77 (0.68 to 2.86) | 0.001 | 89 | <0.00001 |
FFE | |||||||
High-quality studies | 5 | 103 | 94 | −1.32 (−2.17 to −0.47) | 0.002 | 85 | <0.0001 |
Parallel designed | 5 | 107 | 97 | −1.90 (−2.97 to −0.82) | 0.0005 | 90 | <0.00001 |
Multicentre studies | 3 | 68 | 66 | −2.00 (−3.26 to −0.75) | 0.002 | 87 | 0.0004 |
Sample size ≥40 | 3 | 80 | 69 | −0.89 (−1.49 to −0.29) | 0.004 | 67 | 0.05 |
Western population | 6 | 92 | 90 | −1.70 (−2.74 to −0.66) | 0.001 | 88 | <0.00001 |
CFA, coefficient of fat absorption; FFE, faecal fat excretion; PERT, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy; WMD, weighted mean difference.