Table A1.
Methodological quality assessment of included studies using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) tool.
| Author/Year | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | Q6 | Q7 | Q8 | Q9 | Q10 | Q11 | Q12 | Q13 | Q14 | Final Quality Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cao et al., 2020 [35] | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 7 | Good |
| Chen et al., 2020 [36] | Y | Y | N | N | NA | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 5 | Fair |
| Gritsenko et al., 2020 [37] | Y | Y | N | N | NA | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 5 | Fair |
| Hou et al., 2020 [38] | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | NA | NA | N | 7 | Good |
| Husky et al., 2020 [39] | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 5 | Fair |
| Kaparounaki et al., 2020 [40] | Y | Y | NR | N | NA | Y | N | N | Y | NA | NA | NA | NA | N | 4 | Fair |
| Li et al., 2020 [41] | Y | Y | Y | N | NA | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Lin et al., 2020 [42] | Y | Y | NR | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Liu et al., 2020 [43] | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Liu et a., 2020 [44] | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 7 | Good |
| Liu et al., 2020 [45] | Y | Y | NR | N | N | Y | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Majumdar et al., 2020 [46] | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | N | Y | NR | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 5 | Fair |
| Author/Year | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | Q6 | Q7 | Q8 | Q9 | Q10 | Q11 | Q12 | Q13 | Q14 | Final quality score | Rating |
| Marelli et al., 2020 [47] | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 7 | Good |
| Mechil et al., 2020 [48] | Y | Y | NR | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 7 | Good |
| Meo et al., 2020 [49] | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Olaimat et al., 2020 [50] | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Ozdede et al., 2020 [51] | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Peloso et al., 2020 [52] | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Qi et al., 2020 [53] | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Savitsky et al., 2020 [54] | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Sogut et al., 2020 [55] | Y | Y | NR | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Tang et al., 2020 [25] | Y | Y | NR | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 8 | Good |
| Wang and Zhao et al., 2020 [56] | Y | Y | NR | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 7 | Good |
| Wang et al., 2020 [19] | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 8 | Good |
| Xiao et al., 2020 [57] | Y | Y | NR | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | N | NA | NA | N | 6 | Fair |
| Zhang et al., 2020 [58] | Y | Y | NR | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 7 | Good |
| Zhou et al., 2020 [59] | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | NA | NA | N | 8 | Good |
Y: Yes, b. N: No, c. NR: Not reported, d. NA: Not applicable; Q1. Clarity of research question; Q2. Detailed description of population; Q3. Participation rate of eligible participants (at least 50%); Q4. Clarity in the inclusion and exclusion criteria; Q5. Sample size justification, power description, or variance and effect estimates; Q6. Temporality of exposure and outcome; Q7. Sufficient timeframe; Q8. Levels of exposure; Q9. Description of independent variables; Q10. Frequency of exposure assessment; Q11. Description of dependent variables; Q12. Blinding; Q13. Loss to follow-up (response rate) after baseline 20% or less; Q14. Measurement of key potential confounding variables and statistical adjustment for their impact on the relationship between exposure(s) and outcome(s); Rating—Good, Fair or Poor: Good = (7–9 yes); fair = (4–6 yes).