Table 2.
Subgroup analysis: treatment vs. control.
| Studies (N) | SMD (95% CI) | P | I2 (%) | P (heterogeneity) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand function | |||||
| Overall | 17 | 0.38 (0.19, 0.58) | 0 | 0 | 0.839 |
| Stage of stroke | |||||
| Acute | 6 | 0.27 (−0.02, 0.56) | 0.068 | 0 | 0.581 |
| Subacute | 3 | 0.69 (0.22, 1.16) | 0.004 | 0 | 0.571 |
| Chronic | 8 | 0.38 (0.07, 0.69) | 0.018 | 0 | 0.845 |
| Follow–up time | |||||
| Short–term | |||||
| (0–1 month after intervention) Medium–term |
6 | 0.35 (0.04, 0.66) | 0.026 | 0 | 0.986 |
| (2–5 months after intervention) | 6 | 0.40 (0.05, 0.75) | 0.023 | 0 | 0.975 |
| Upper extremity | |||||
| Acute phase | |||||
| Stimulation site | |||||
| Affected side | 7 | 0.71 (0.24, 1.19) | 0.003 | 66.8 | 0.006 |
| Unaffected side | 8 | 0.51 (0.02, 1.01) | 0.043 | 75.7 | 0 |
| Bilateral | 2 | 5.99 (1.88, 10.09) | 0.004 | 93.9 | 0 |
| Baseline impairment | |||||
| Mild baseline impairment | 1 | 0.61 (−0.29, 1.51) | 0.183 | ||
| Moderate baseline impairment | 6 | 0.44 (−0.01, 0.89) | 0.053 | 52.7 | 0.061 |
| Severe baseline impairment | 10 | 1.59 (0.68, 2.49) | 0.001 | 93.4 | 0 |
| Treatment sessions | |||||
| 5–sessions | 6 | 0.35 (0.09, 0.62) | 0.009 | 0 | 0.461 |
| 10–sessions | 5 | 0.50 (−0.00, 1.01) | 0.052 | 55.8 | 0.060 |
| 12–15 sessions | 3 | 1.39 (−0.98, 3.75) | 0.250 | 94.7 | 0 |
| 20–sessions | 3 | 3.73 (1.22, 6.24) | 0.004 | 96 | 0 |
| Stimulation | |||||
| TBS rTMS rTMS frequencyx Moderate (3–10 Hz) Low (1Hz) |
2 15 6 8 |
3.08 (1.25, 4.91) 0.88 (0.35, 1.41) 0.61 (0.15, 1.07) 0.51 (0.02, 1.01) |
0.001 0.001 0.01 0.043 |
75.5 88.2 65 75.7 |
0.043 0 0.014 0 |
| Subacute phase | |||||
| Stimulation site | |||||
| Affected side | 7 | 0.52 (0.01, 1.02) | 0.044 | 74.4 | 0.001 |
| Unaffected side | 9 | 0.45 (0.13, 0.77) | 0.005 | 56.6 | 0.018 |
| Bilateral | 3 | 0.42 (−0.04, 0.87) | 0.072 | 4.3 | 0.352 |
| Baseline impairment | |||||
| Mild baseline impairment | 3 | 0.76 (−0.15, 1.67) | 0.103 | 79.9 | 0.007 |
| Moderate baseline impairment | 5 | 0.22 (−0.20, 0.64) | 0.301 | 56.6 | 0.056 |
| Severe baseline impairment | 11 | 0.54 (0.23, 0.86) | 0.001 | 55.2 | 0.013 |
| Treatment sessions | |||||
| 5–sessions | 1 | −0.12 (−0.75, 0.51) | 0.711 | ||
| 10–sessions | 14 | 0.56 (0.27, 0.85) | 0 | 62.8 | 0.001 |
| 15–sessions | 1 | −0.04 (−0.66, 0.58) | 0.894 | ||
| 20–sessions | 2 | 0.25 (−0.24, 0.75) | 0.313 | 0 | 0.832 |
| 40–sessions | 1 | 0.88 (0.23, 1.52) | 0.008 | ||
| Stimulation | |||||
| TBS rTMS rTMS frequency High (20 Hz) Moderate (3–10Hz) Low (1Hz) |
1 15 2 4 9 |
−0.18 (−0.89, 0.53) 0.52 (0.24, 0.79) 0.77 (0.05, 1.49) 0.59 (−0.16, 1.34) 0.45 (0.13, 0.77) |
0.619 0 0.037 0.122 0.005 |
63.6 43 82.1 56.6 |
0 0.185 0.001 0.018 |
| Chronic phase | |||||
| Stimulation site | |||||
| Affected side | 6 | 0.07 (−0.26, 0.41) | 0.67 | 0 | 0.99 |
| Unaffected side | 14 | 0.42 (0.14, 0.69) | 0.003 | 60.7 | 0.002 |
| Bilateral | 4 | 0.56 (−0.14, 1.25) | 0.116 | 69.4 | 0.02 |
| Baseline impairment | |||||
| Moderate baseline impairment | 11 | 0.34 (0.03, 0.65) | 0.03 | 51.7 | 0.023 |
| Severe baseline impairment | 13 | 0.39 (0.11, 0.67) | 0.006 | 48.6 | 0.025 |
| Treatment sessions | |||||
| 10–sessions | 13 | 0.32 (0.08, 0.55) | 0.008 | 0 | 0.680 |
| 15–sessions | 3 | 0.73 (−0.15, 1.62) | 0.102 | 78.1 | 0.01 |
| 16–sessions | 1 | 0.15 (−0.75, 1.05) | 0.743 | ||
| 18–sessions | 2 | −0.03 (−0.31, 0.25) | 0.846 | 0 | 0.707 |
| 20–sessions | 3 | 0.43 (−0.03, 0.89) | 0.065 | 70.9 | 0.008 |
| Stimulation | |||||
| TBS rTMS rTMS frequency Moderate (3–10Hz) Low (1Hz) |
6 16 1 13 |
0.05 (−0.29, 0.40) 0.48 (0.21, 0.76) 0.23 (−0.59, 1.06) 0.43 (0.14, 0.72) |
0.76 0.001 0.581 0.004 |
0 64.5 63.5 |
0.994 0 0.001 |
| Overall | |||||
| Follow–up time | |||||
| Short–term | |||||
| (0–1 month after intervention) Medium–term |
14 | 0.27 (0.04, 0.51) | 0.023 | 34.5 | 0.099 |
| (2–5 months after intervention) Long–term |
23 | 1.23 (0.74, 1.73) | 0 | 90.4 | 0 |
| (6+ months after intervention) | 3 | 1.61 (−0.43, 3.65) | 0.121 | 95.9 | 0 |
SMD, standardized mean difference; CI, confidence interval.