Table 3.
GRADE certainty of evidence of outcomes.
| Outcomes | Number of participants (studies) | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Absolute effect (95% CI) | Certainty of evidence (GRADE) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Cupping | ||||
| Waist circumference (cm) | 302 (4 studies) | The mean WC loss in the control groups ranged from 3.9 lost to 0.33 lost | The mean WC loss in the intervention groups was 6.07 lower than control group | MD 6.07 lower (8.44–3.71 lower) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ moderate |
| Weight (kg) | 261 (3 studies) | The mean Weight loss in the control groups ranged from 2.9 lost to 7.9 lost | The mean Weight loss in the intervention groups was 2.46 lower than control group | MD 2.46 lower (4.25–0.68 lower) | ⊕⊕⊕⊕ high |
| BMI | 261 (3 studies) | The mean BMI loss in the control groups ranged from 1.3 lost to 2.5 lost | The mean BMI loss in the intervention groups was 1.26 lower than control group | MD 1.26 lower (2.11–0.40 lower) | ⊕⊕⊕⊕ high |
| Total fat (%) | 159 (2 studies) | The mean total Fat loss in the control groups ranged from 0.2 lost to 1.29 lost | The mean total Fat loss in the intervention groups was 1.49 lower than control group | MD 1.49 lower (4.51 lower–1.54 higher) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low |
| SBP (mm Hg) | 200 (3 studies) | The mean SBP loss in the control groups ranged from 9.7 lost to 2.78 gain | The mean SBP loss in the intervention groups was 1.97 lower than control group | MD 1.97 lower (4.85 lower–0.92 higher) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ moderate |
| DBP (mm Hg) | 200 (3 studies) | The mean DBP loss in the control groups ranged from 6 lost to 0.06 gain | The mean DBP loss in the intervention groups was 0.05 higher than control group | MD 0.05 higher (2.58 lower–2.68 higher) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ moderate |
| TC (mg/dL) | 159 (2 studies) | The mean TC loss in the control groups ranged from 19.3 lost to 3.1 gain | The mean TC loss in the intervention groups was 6.48 lower than control group | MD 6.48 lower (22.43 lower–9.47 higher) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low |
| TG (mg/dL) | 200 (3 studies) | The mean TG loss in the control groups ranged from 71.9 lost to 18.6 lost | The mean TG loss in the intervention groups was 18.27 lower than control group | MD 18.27 lower (71.85 lower to 35.31 higher) |
⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 200 (3 studies) | The mean HDL-C gain in the control groups ranged from 5.0 lost to 15.5 gain | The mean HDL-C gain in the intervention groups was 2.09 higher than control group | MD 2.09 higher (5.71 lower–9.88 higher) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low |
| LDL-C (mg/dL) | 159 (2 studies) | The mean LDL-C loss in the control groups ranged from 15.4 lost to 0.9 lost | The mean LDL-C loss in the intervention groups was 3.98 lower than control group | MD 3.98 lower (6.99 lower–0.96 lower) | ⊕⊕⊕⊕ high |
| FBG (mg/dL) | 200 (3 studies) | The mean FBG loss in the control groups ranged from 21.6 lost to 8.3 gain | The mean FBG loss in the intervention groups was 9.18 lower than control group | MD 9.18 lower (25.46 lower–7.10 higher) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low |
| hs-CRP (mg/L) | 159 (2 studies) | The mean hs-CRP loss in the control groups ranged from 0.6 lost to 0.2 lost | The mean hs-CRP loss in the intervention groups was 0.10 lower than control group | MD 0.10 lower (0.23 lower–0.03 higher) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ moderate |
Population: patients with metabolic syndrome/Intervention: cupping therapy/Comparison: control group.
BMI = body mass index, DBP = diastolic blood pressure, FBG = fasting blood glucose, HDL-C = high density lipoprotein cholesterol, hs-CRP = high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, LDL-C = low density lipoprotein cholesterol, MD = mean difference, SBP = systolic blood pressure, TC = total cholesterol, TG = triglyceride, WC = waist circumference.