TABLE 3.

Results of subgroup analysis.

Outcomes	Subgroup	Studies	Total	ES	Heterogeneity	Interaction p value
		n		(95% CI)	I 2
Time for defervescence
The dosage	20 mL	11	1004	MD −1.59 (−2.04, −1.15)	91%	0.61
	30 mL	2	180	MD −1.16 (−1.98, −0.34)	76%
	0.6 mL/kg	2	156	MD −1.72 (−2.80, −0.64)	76%
Treatment duration	>7 days	11	1000	MD −1.64 (−2.14, −1.14)	91%	0.41
	≤7 days	4	340	MD −1.33 (−1.86, −0.81)	82%
Time for disappearance of cough
The dosage	20 mL	5	450	MD−1.99 (−3.14, −0.85)	95%	0.09
	30 mL	2	180	MD −2.26 (−2.64, −1.87)	0%
	0.6 mL/kg	2	156	MD −1.57 (−2.04, −1.10)	0%
Treatment duration	>7 days	5	446	MD −1.56 (−2.21, −0.91)	87%	0.18
	≤7 days	4	340	MD −2.51 (−3.77, −1.26)	91%
Time for disappearance of lung rales
The dosage	20 mL	10	926	MD −2.70 (−3.67, −1.73)	94%	0.20
	30 mL	2	180	MD −1.42 (−2.43, −0.42)	81%
	0.6 mL/kg	2	156	MD −2.05 (−2.94, −1.17)	63%
Treatment duration	>7 days	10	922	MD −1.78 (−2.09, −1.48)	51%	0.09
	≤7 days	4	340	MD −4.04 (−6.65, −1.43)	97%
Improvement time of chest X-ray
The dosage	20 mL	7	640	MD −2.41 (−2.71, −2.11)	0%	0.001
	30 mL	2	180	MD −3.33 (−3.73, −2.93)	0%
	0.6 mL/kg	1	66	MD −2.20 (−3.73, −0.67)	-
Treatment duration	>7 days	9	820	MD −2.74 (−2.98, −2.50)	43%	0.50
	≤7 days	1	66	MD −2.20 (−3.73, −0.67)	-
The hospitalization time
Treatment duration	>7 days	7	648	MD −3.01 (−3.74, −2.29)	88%	0.22
	≤7 days	1	84	MD −4.21 (−5.97, −2.45)	-
APACHE Ⅱ
Treatment duration	>7 days	2	150	MD −1.06 (−8.25, 6.13)	98%	0.47
	≤7 days	2	162	MD −3.84 (−6.32, −1.36)	93%

Abbreviations: ES, effect estimate; MD, mean difference; CI, confidence interval.