Table 2.
Subgroup analysis of the correlation between inflammatory index and survival outcome was was conducted according to different influencing factors and parameters, such as study design, research area, sample size, age, inflammatory index cut off value, and follow-up time, etc.
| Variables | No of studies | No of patients | Test of association | Test of heterogeneity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR | 95% CI | P-value | I2 (%) | P-value | ||||
| Overall Survival | ||||||||
| Total | 11 | 2,324 | 1.76 | [1.44, 2.15] | P < 0.00001 | 68 | P = 0.0006 | |
| Study Design | ||||||||
| Prospective | 2 | 540 | 1.23 | [1.12, 1.35] | P < 0.00001 | 20 | P = 0.26 | |
| Retrospective | 9 | 1,784 | 1.83 | [1.58, 2.11] | P < 0.00001 | 18 | P = 0.28 | |
| Research Region | ||||||||
| Asia | 2 | 105 | 2.98 | [1.88, 4.73] | P < 0.00001 | 0 | P = 0.87 | |
| Europe and America | 7 | 950 | 1.65 | [1.41, 1.93] | P < 0.00001 | 0 | P = 0.73 | |
| Multicentre | 2 | 1,269 | 1.56 | [0.90, 2.69] | P = 0.11 | 87 | P = 0.005 | |
| Sample Size | ||||||||
| > 100 | 7 | 2,065 | 1.6 | [1.31, 1.96] | P < 0.00001 | 66 | P = 0.007 | |
| ≤ 100 | 4 | 259 | 2.18 | [1.62, 2.93] | P < 0.00001 | 21 | P = 0.28 | |
| Median/Average Age (Years) | ||||||||
| > 60 | 7 | 2,058 | 1.55 | [1.28, 1.86] | P < 0.00001 | 60% | P = 0.02 | |
| ≤ 60 | 3 | 210 | 2.42 | [1.76, 3.34] | P < 0.00001 | 0% | P = 0.47 | |
| NLR Cutoff | ||||||||
| ≥ 2 | 2 | 596 | 1.34 | [0.99, 1.82] | P = 0.06 | I2 = 53% | P = 0.15 | |
| ≥ 3 | 6 | 1,357 | 1.88 | [1.47, 2.39] | P < 0.00001 | I2 = 41% | P = 0.13 | |
| ≥4 | 3 | 371 | 1.83 | [1.43, 2.35] | P < 0.00001 | I2 = 0% | P = 0.47 | |
| Follow-Up Period (Months) | ||||||||
| > 12 | 3 | 283 | 1.94 | [1.35, 2.79] | P = 0.0003 | 41 | P = 0.19 | |
| ≤ 12 | 5 | 937 | 1.68 | [1.25, 2.25] | P = 0.0005 | 72 | P = 0.007 | |
| NR | 3 | 1,114 | 1.76 | [1.20, 2.58] | P = 0.004 | 55 | P = 0.11 | |
| Study Quality | ||||||||
| > 7 | 8 | 1,876 | 1.84 | [1.41, 2.40] | P < 0.00001 | 74 | P = 0.0003 | |
| ≤ 7 | 3 | 448 | 1.56 | [1.25, 1.95] | P < 0.0001 | 21 | P = 0.28 | |
| Publication Year | ||||||||
| Before year 2016 | 4 | 266 | 2.41 | [1.79, 3.25] | P < 0.00001 | 0 | P = 0.68 | |
| After year 2016 | 7 | 2,058 | 1.55 | [1.28, 1.86] | P < 0.00001 | 60 | P = 0.02 | |
| Initial Inclusion Period | ||||||||
| Before year 2010 | 8 | 2,168 | 1.59 | [1.32, 1.91] | P < 0.00001 | 61 | P = 0.01 | |
| After year 2010 | 3 | 161 | 2.81 | [1.88, 4.19] | P < 0.00001 | 0 | P = 0.87 | |
| Treatment Regimen | ||||||||
| Sorafenib | 9 | 1,807 | 1.69 | [1.38, 2.08] | P < 0.00001 | 66 | P = 0.003 | |
| Combined with Sorafenib | 1 | 40 | 3.07 | [1.70, 5.55] | P = 0.0002 | – | – | |
| Tivantinib | 1 | 65 | 1.58 | [1.01, 2.47] | P = 0.05 | – | – | |