Table 6. Overall and subgroup analyses of circulating sRAGE and esRAGE levels with CAD, and exploration of between-study heterogeneity and publication bias.
| sRAGE and esRAGE levels | Studies (cases/controls),n (n/n) | WMD; 95% CI; P | I 2 (P χ2); P Egger |
| sRAGE (pg/ml) | |||
| Total studies | 13 (1578/1275) | −123.12; −294.63 to 48.39; 0.159 | 99.7% (<0.001); 0.664 |
| Total studies in DM | 3 (232/161) | 185.71; 106.82 to 264.61; <0.001 | 0.0% (0.634); 1.0 |
| Total studies in non-DM | 11 (1400/1168) | −177.9; −363.33 to 7.54; 0.06 | 99.7% (<0.001); 0.861 |
| Total studies in non-RD | 9 (1250/1031) | −54.46; −216.05 to 107.13; 0.509 | 98.9% (<0.001); 0.966 |
| CAD endpoint | |||
| CAD | 6 (1002/864) | −136.54; −370.88 to 97.8; 0.253 | 98.2% (<0.001); 0.261 |
| MI | 7 (576/411) | −110.61; −362.23 to 141.01; 0.389 | 99.8% (<0.001); 0.863 |
| Descent of populations | |||
| Caucasian | 6 (493/467) | −257.72; −509.63 to −5.8; 0.045 | 99.9% (<0.001); 0.721 |
| East Asian | 7 (1085/808) | 15.26; −104.78 to 135.29; 0.803 | 91.8% (<0.001); 0.512 |
| Study design | |||
| Retrospective | 12 (1542/1245) | −100.25; −291.8 to 91.31; 0.305 | 99.7% (<0.001); 0.662 |
| Prospective | 1 (36/30) | −392.0; −471.43 to −366.57; <0.001 | NA |
| Age and/or gender | |||
| Matched | 4 (153/117) | 14.92; −381.82 to 411.66; 0.941 | 98.3% (<0.001); 0.079 |
| Unclear | 9 (1425/1158) | −182.65; −402.44 to 37.14; 0.103 | 99.8% (<0.001); 0.877 |
| Total samples | |||
| <300 subjects | 3 (929/830) | −86.94; −411.07 to 237.19; 0.599 | 99.3% (<0.001); 0.857 |
| ≥300 subjects | 10 (619/445) | −134.55; −347.88 to 78.78; 0.216 | 99.7% (<0.001); 0.136 |
| esRAGE (pg/ml) | |||
| Total studies | 9 (1752/1860) | −84.27; −133.94 to −34.61; 0.001 | 96.4% (<0.001); 0.675 |
| Total studies in DM | 8 (1603/1728) | −84.6; −140.64 to −28.56; 0.003 | 96.8% (<0.001); 0.711 |
| Total studies in non-DM | 1 (149/132) | −80.0; −109.38 to −50.62; <0.001 | NA |
| Total studies in non-RD | 6 (1095/1346) | −117.82; −222.58 to −13.05; 0.028 | 98.2% (<0.001); 0.681 |
| CAD endpoint | |||
| CAD | 8 (1698/1806) | −90.25; −142.34 to −38.17; 0.001 | 96.8% (<0.001); 0.764 |
| MI | 1 (54/54) | −20.0; −110.61 to 70.61; 0.665 | NA |
| Descent of populations | |||
| East Asian | 9 (1752/1860) | −84.27; −133.94 to −34.61; 0.001 | 96.4% (<0.001); 0.675 |
| Study design | |||
| Retrospective | 7 (1538/1503) | −52.12; −74.48 to −26.76; <0.001 | 79.1% (<0.001); 0.332 |
| Prospective | 2 (214/357) | −199.7; −317.3 to −82.1; 0.001 | 97.6% (<0.001); 1.0 |
| Age and/or gender | |||
| Matched | 1 (54/54) | −20.0; −110.61 to 70.61; 0.665 | NA |
| Unclear | 8 (1698/1806) | −90.25; −142.34 to −38.17; 0.001 | 96.8% (<0.001); 0.764 |
| Total samples | |||
| <300 subjects | 4 (1184/1237) | −45.62; −85.61 to −5.62; 0.025 | 88.4% (<0.001); 0.724 |
| ≥300 subjects | 5 (568/623) | −116.06; −192.92 to −39.12; 0.003 | 96.8% (<0.001); 0.366 |
Abbreviations: WMD, weighted mean difference; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; DM, diabetes mellitus; RD, renal disease; CAD, coronary artery disease; MI, myocardial infarction; NA, not available.