Table 2.
Subgroup analysis results.
| Subgroup | efficiency rate | VAS | SUA | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | RR [95%CI] | P value | I 2 | Study | MD[95%CI] | P value | I 2 | Study | MD [95%CI] | P value | I 2 | ||
| Total | 14 | 1.14 [1.10-1.19] | 0.0001 | 23% | 10 | -2.26 [-2.71,-1.81] | 0.0001 | 83% | 10 | -31.60 [-44.24,-18.96] | 0.0001 | 74% | |
| Interventions | • non-pharmaceutical | 4 | 1.07 [0.99-1.17] | 0.08 | 0% | 4 | -2.49 [-2.82,-2.16] | 0.00001 | 0% | 3 | -29.97 [-71.22,-11.29] | 0.15 | 92% |
| • combination of drugs | 10 | 1.17 [1.11-1.23] | 0.00001 | 49% | 6 | -2.11 [-2.74,-1.49] | 0.0001 | 87% | 7 | -35.88 [-44.66,-27.10] | 0.0001 | 24% | |
| Sample size | • n<40 | 9 | 1.08 [1.03-1.14] | 0.002 | 0% | 8 | -2.50 [-2.77,-2.23] | 0.00001 | 23% | 3 | -29.55 [-45.32,-13.77] | 0.0001 | 80% |
| • n≥40 | 5 | 1.23 [1.14-1.33] | 0.00001 | 1% | 2 | -1.30 [-1.72,-0.88] | 0.0001 | 55% | 7 | -38.33 [-58.73,-17.94] | 0.18 | 42% | |
| EA frequency | • 2Hz | 3 | 1.13 [1.00-1.26] | 0.05 | 31% | 3 | -2.19 [-2.93,-1.45] | 0.00001 | 81% | 2 | -23.34 [-89.05,42.37] | 0.49 | 89% |
| • >2Hz | 11 | 1.11 [1.06-1.17] | 0.00001 | 27% | 7 | -2.30 [-2.92,-1.68] | 0.00001 | 86% | 8 | -37.76 [-45.20,-30.33] | 0.0001 | 19% | |
EA, electroacupuncture; RR, risk rate; MD, mean difference; VAS, visual assessment scale; SUA, serum uric acid; CI, confidence interval.