Table 2.
Outcomes of the sensitivity analysis and test of publication bias
| Outcomes | No. of studies | Sensitivity analysis | Egger’ s test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR/ORs (95% CI) | Robust | P value | ||
| Total effective rate | 5 | 1.30 (1.18, 1.43) to 1.34 (1.20, 1.50) | Yes | 0.087 |
| Relapse rate | 6 | 0.42 (0.22, 0.79) to 0.60 (0.34, 1.05) | No | 0.933 |
| The score of cough | 6 | -0.88 (-1.02, -0.74) to 0.00 (-0.28, 0.28) | No | 0.055 |
| Cough remission time | 3 | -3.19 (-3.87, -2.52) to -2.26 (-2.80, -1.72) | Yes | 0.732 |
| FEV1% | 4 | 1.29 (-0.97, 3.54) to 3.30 (1.09, 5.50) | No | 0.668 |
| PEF% | 4 | 1.73 (-0.73, 4.18) to 4.84 (0.13, 9.55) | No | 0.242 |
| Headache | 5 | 1.00 (0.20, 4.90) to 1.73 (0.35, 8.46) | Yes | 0.060 |
| Dizzy | 4 | 0.69 (0.11, 4.33) to 1.77 (0.29, 10.77) | Yes | 0.346 |
| Hoarseness | 6 | 0.70 (0.21, 2.37) to 1.00 (0.27, 3.63) | Yes | 0.474 |
| Abdominal pain | 6 | 0.96 (0.35, 2.67) to 1.58 (0.48, 5.19) | Yes | 0.080 |
| Total complication | 9 | 0.98 (0.57, 1.71) to 1.15 (0.63, 2.09) | Yes | 0.148 |
HR Hazard ratio, OR Odds ratio, CI Confidence interval, FEV1% Percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, PEF% Percentage of predicted peak expiratory flow