Table 2. Subgroup analysis of the pooled estimates of overall MSD.
| Characteristic | Estimate (95% CI) | Q | I 2 | Number of estimates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 0.15 (0.10-0.2) | 2073.13 | 99.18 | 38 |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 0.14 (0.09-0.19) | 265.61 | 96.41 | 11 |
| Female | 0.17 (0.11-0.23) | 417.15 | 95.44 | 12 |
| Dental personnel | ||||
| Dentists | 0.2 (0.12-0.28) | 1045.42 | 99.4 | 19 |
| Dental auxiliaries | 0.1 (0.05-0.14) | 182.68 | 96.6 | 16 |
| Mixed | 0.15 (0.03-0.27) | 48.76 | 93.92 | 3 |
| Continent | ||||
| North America | 0.09 (0.05-0.12) | 1291.72 | 97.61 | 18 |
| Europe | 0.08 (0.04-0.13) | 27.46 | 90.64 | 4 |
| Asia | 0.25 (0.15-0.35) | 546.87 | 97.96 | 15 |
| Risk of bias | ||||
| Low | 0.17 (0.11-0.22) | 2028.49 | 99.33 | 31 |
| Moderate | 0.09 (0.05-0.13) | 44.53 | 91.23 | 7 |
| Method of diagnosis | ||||
| Self-reported | 0.21 (0.13-0.29) | 1154.82 | 99.4 | 20 |
| Physical examination | 0.13 (0.09-0.16) | 7.36 | 47.12 | 5 |
| Nerve conduction studies | 0.08 (0.03-0.12) | 85.93 | 95.49 | 10 |