Table 4.
Subgroup analysis of the prognostic value of CONUT for DFS in patients with HNC
| Subgroups | No. of studies | No. of patients | Effects model | HR (95%CI) | p | Heterogeneity I2(%) Ph |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 4 | 796 | Fixed | 1.93(1.45–2.56) | < 0.001 | 45.6 | 0.138 |
| Country | |||||||
| China | 3 | 694 | Fixed | 2.21(1.63–3.01) | < 0.001 | 0 | 0.917 |
| Japan | 1 | 102 | - | 0.85(0.40–1.80) | 0.672 | - | - |
| Sample size | |||||||
| < 150 | 2 | 215 | Random | 1.48(0.51–4.27) | 0.468 | 77.5 | 0.035 |
| ≥ 150 | 2 | 581 | Fixed | 2.14(1.51–3.02) | < 0.001 | 0 | 0.967 |
| Cancer type | |||||||
| HNC/HNSCC | 1 | 102 | - | 0.85(0.40–1.80) | 0.672 | - | - |
| HPC | 1 | 113 | - | 2.51(1.28–4.92) | 0.007 | - | - |
| LC | 2 | 581 | Fixed | 2.14(1.51–3.02) | < 0.001 | 0 | 0.967 |
| TNM stage | |||||||
| I-IV | 2 | 581 | Fixed | 2.14(1.51–3.02) | < 0.001 | 0 | 0.967 |
|
Recurrent/ Metastatic/ III-IV |
2 | 215 | Random | 1.48(0.51–4.27) | 0.468 | 77.5 | 0.035 |
| Treatment | |||||||
| Surgery | 2 | 581 | Fixed | 2.14(1.51–3.02) | < 0.001 | 0 | 0.967 |
| Mixed | 1 | 113 | - | 2.51(1.28–4.92) | 0.007 | - | - |
| ICIs | 1 | 102 | - | 0.85(0.40–1.80) | 0.672 | - | - |
| Cut-off value | |||||||
| ≥ 4 | 1 | 427 | - | 2.13(1.39–3.26) | 0.001 | - | - |
| ≥ 3 | 2 | 215 | Random | 1.48(0.51–4.27) | 0.468 | 77.5 | 0.035 |
| ≥ 2 | 1 | 154 | - | 2.16(1.19–3.91) | 0.011 | - | - |
| Survival analysis | |||||||
| Univariate | 1 | 427 | - | 2.13(1.39–3.26) | 0.001 | - | - |
| Multivariate | 3 | 369 | Random | 1.71(0.92–3.18) | 0.089 | 61.1 | 0.077 |
TNM: tumor (T), node (N), metastasis (M); HNC: head and neck cancer; LC: laryngeal cancer; HPC: hypopharyngeal cancer; HNSCC: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; ICIs: immune checkpoint inhibitors; DFS: disease-free survival