Table 2.

Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies scores for included non-randomized controlled trials

MINORS checklist	Guo et al. [19]	Huang et al. [20]
A clearly stated aim	2	2
Inclusion of consecutive patients	2	2
Prospective collection of data	2	2
Endpoints appropriate to the aim of the study	2	2
Unbiased assessment of the study endpoint	1	1
Follow-up period appropriate to the aim of the study	2	2
Loss to follow up less than 5%	2	2
Prospective calculation of the study size	0	0
An adequate control group	2	2
Contemporary groups	2	2
Baseline equivalence of groups	2	2
Adequate statistical analyses	2	2
Total	21	21

0–16: poor research quality; 17–20: fair research quality; 21–24: high research quality