Table 3

Results of meta-analyses for outcomes of interest

				Effect estimate		Heterogeneity
Outcomes of interest	Studies, n	Patients, n		WMD/OR (95% CI)	p Value	I² (%)	p Value
PERT vs baseline		PERT	Baseline
CFA	11	228	229	2.28 (1.50 to 3.06)	<0.00001	89	<0.00001
CNA	4	146	147	1.01 (0.39 to 1.62)	0.001	80	0.002
FFE	13	278	281	−1.66 (−12.19 to −1.13)	<0.00001	84	<0.00001
FNE	4	93	94	−1.01 (−1.56 to −0.46)	0.0003	61	0.05
Faecal weight	6	107	111	−0.96 (−1.38 to −0.55)	<0.00001	45	0.11
Faecal consistency: soft	2	58	58	0.47 (0.21 to 1.06)	0.07	63	0.10
Faecal consistency: formed/normal	2	58	58	2.26 (1.05 to 4.89)	0.04	54	0.14
Faecal frequency	2	49	49	−0.12 (−0.52 to 0.28)	0.55	0	0.87
Flatulence	2	58	58	0.36 (0.13 to 1.02)	0.06	0	0.67
Abdominal pain	2	58	58	0.53 (0.25 to 1.12)	0.10	0	0.62
PERT vs placebo		PERT	Placebo
CFA	7	124	114	1.67 (0.81 to 2.53)	0.0001	86	<0.00001
CNA	2	56	52	0.61 (−0.03 to 1.24)	0.06	62	0.11
FFE	7	124	114	−1.58 (−2.39 to −0.76)	0.0001	85	<0.00001
FNE	3	88	80	−0.54 (−0.85 to −0.22)	0.0007	40	0.19
Faecal weight	5	95	83	−0.92 (−1.56 to −0.28)	0.005	71	0.007
Faecal consistency: soft	2	58	55	0.42 (0.19 to 0.94)	0.03	0	0.89
Faecal consistency: formed/normal	2	58	55	1.20 (0.58 to 2.52)	0.62	87	0.006
Faecal frequency	3	70	69	−1.72 (−4.00 to 0.55)	0.14	96	<0.00001
Flatulence	2	58	55	1.20 (0.52 to 2.73)	0.67	88	0.004
Abdominal pain	2	58	55	0.37 (0.17 to 0.80)	0.01	0	0.85
Adverse event	4	104	96	1.05 (0.53 to 2.07)	0.9	0	0.83
PERT vs PERT		High dose	Low dose
CFA	4	88	90	0.70 (−0.27 to 1.67)	0.16	69	0.02
FFE	5	103	106	−0.43 (−1.05 to 0.19)	0.18	59	0.05
Enteric-coated vs non-coated		Coated	Non-coated
CFA	3	20	18	1.13 (−1.94 to 4.20)	0.47	91	<0.0001
FFE	4	55	53	−0.77 (−2.66 to 1.12)	0.42	89	<0.00001

CFA, coefficient of fat absorption; CNA, coefficient of nitrogen absorption; FFE, faecal fat excretion; FNE, faecal nitrogen excretion; PERT, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy; WMD, weighted mean difference.