Table 2.
Results of pooled analyses
| GEE |
GLS |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climatological variable | No. studies analysed | ß (s.e.) | IRR (95% CI) | P-value | σu (between) (%) | σe (within) (%) |
| Mean temperature | 25 | −0.102 (±0.021) | 0.90 (0.87–0.94) | <0.0001 | 87.8 | 12.2 |
| Monthly rainfall | 26 | −0.008 (±0.001) | 0.99 (0.99–1.00) | 0.001 | 83.8 | 16.2 |
| Relative humidity | 5 | −0.027 (±0.018) | 0.97 (0.95–1.00) | 0.018 | 61.0 | 39.0 |
The log-linear Poisson generalized estimating equation (GEE) model controls for residual (within study) correlation and includes study as a categorical (fixed effect). Both the coefficient and the incidence rate ration (IRR) for a one unit change are shown for the results of the GEE model. The generalized least squares (GLS) Random Effects Model assesses within- and between-study variability.