Table 3.

Meta-regression analyses of the effects of each covariate on fetal loss and preterm delivery

	Fetal loss				Preterm delivery
Covariates	Number of studies	Point estimate	95% CI	P value	Number of studies	Point estimate	95% CI	P value
Publication year	21	−0.045	(−0.130–0.040)	0.304	16	−0.055	(−0.153–0.043)	0.271
Mean age	16	−0.008	(−0.322–0.305)	0.957	13	0.013	(−0.188–0.214)	0.902
Mean GA	15	0.007	(−0.140–0.153)	0.93	13	−0.028	(−0.142–0.086)	0.633
Proportion of 1st	9	−0.02	(−0.102–0.062)	0.635	8	0.001	(−0.050–0.052)	0.97
Proportion of 2nd	9	0.003	(−0.080–0.060)	0.952	8	0.004	(−0.040–0.048)	0.849
Proportion of 3rd	9	0.012	(−0.054–0.347)	0.729	8	−0.005	(−0.042–0.033)	0.8
Proportion of CA	10	0.055	(−0.015–0.124)	0.123	7	−0.002	(−0.095–0.091)	0.969
Proportion of NA	13	0.009	(−0.057–0.281)	0.778	9	0.032	(−0.062–0.126)	0.499

CI confidence interval; GA gestational age, CA complicated appendicitis, NA negative appendicitis