Table 2.
Estimates of the pooled mean difference and 95% LoA between the temporal artery thermometer and reference standard. Random-effects meta-analysis*
| Pooled mean difference, °C (95% limits of agreement) |
Number of comparisons | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | −0.19 (−1.16 to 0.77) | 43 |
| Subgroup analysis | ||
| Reference standards† | ||
| Rectal | −0.19 (−1.21 to 0.81) | 23 |
| Oesophagus | −0.03 (−0.43 to 0.36) | 2 |
| Bladder | −0.17 (−1.30 to 0.95) | 8 |
| Nasopharynx | 0.09 (−0.73 to 0.91) | 3 |
| Pulmonary artery | −0.40 (−1.30 to 0.51) | 6 |
| Patient factors | ||
| Children | −0.20 (−1.17 to 0.76) | 26 |
| Adults | −0.17 (−1.14 to 0.79) | 17 |
| Febrile status | ||
| Febrile | −0.31 (−1.22 to 0.59) | 9 |
| Afebrile | 0.07 (−0.72 to 0.86) | 12 |
| Mixed | −0.28 (−1.37 to 0.79) | 22 |
| Thermometer factors‡ | ||
| TAT-5000 | −0.10 (−1.09 to 0.89) | 22 |
| Other | −0.27 (−1.23 to 0.67) | 20 |
*Random-effects pooled estimates are calculated according to Williamson et al.9
†One study used the brain.
‡Thermometer type was unclear in one study.
LoA, limits of agreement; TAT, temporal artery thermometers.