Table 5.
Multivariate metaregression analysis for the potential variables between studies.
| Covariates | Coefficient | Standard error | t | P | 95% confidence interval | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESCC | ||||||
| Study area | ||||||
| North America | 0.434 | 0.566 | 0.77 | 0.455 | -0.779 | 1.647 |
| Europe | 0.449 | 0.483 | -0.93 | 0.368 | -1.485 | 0.586 |
| East Asia | -0.414 | 0.472 | -0.88 | 0.395 | -1.427 | 0.599 |
| Middle East | -1.426 | 0.677 | -2.11 | 0.05∗ | -2.878 | 0.026 |
| Detection method | ||||||
| S | -0.296 | 0.681 | -0.43 | 0.671 | -1.757 | 1.165 |
| S, H, U | 0.246 | 0.765 | 0.32 | 0.752 | -1.395 | 1.888 |
| EAC | ||||||
| Year | -0.017 | 0.024 | -0.71 | 0.490 | -0.069 | -0.035 |
| Ethnicity | ||||||
| Caucasians | 0.394 | 0.417 | 0.94 | 0.361 | -0.496 | 1.283 |
| Australian | 0.461 | 0.435 | 1.06 | 0.306 | -0.467 | 1.389 |
| Matching | 0.275 | 0.209 | 1.31 | 0.209 | -0.171 | 0.721 |
Note: ESCC: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; EAC: esophageal adenocarcinoma; S: serology; H: histology; U: rapid urease test. ∗the difference was statistically significant.