Table 3.
Meta-analysis of postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio against age, sex, height, diagnosis and smoking history in 3337 study participants
| Variables | Estimates | Confidence (95%) | limits | P value* | I 2 | P value (heterogeneity)† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age/year from 20 (years) | −0.254 | −0.286 | −0.221 | <0.001 | 42.8 | 0.036 |
| Sex | ||||||
| Female | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Male | 0.119 | −0.752 | 0.990 | 0.789 | 0.0 | 0.595 |
| Height/m from 170 cm | −0.087 | −0.130 | −0.044 | <0.001 | 0.0 | 0.520 |
| Cases grouping | ||||||
| Controls (ref) | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Asthmatic | −4.090 | −5.025 | −3.155 | <0.001 | 16.7 | 0.266 |
| Sinusitis | −0.592 | −1.487 | 0.303 | 0.195 | 0.0 | 0.842 |
| Both Asthma & Sinusitis | −2.773 | −3.812 | −1.734 | <0.001 | 0.0 | 0.593 |
| Smoking (per pack year) | −0.084 | −0.124 | −0.043 | <0.001 | 53.7 | 0.006 |
| Smoking status | ||||||
| Never (ref) | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Former | −0.732 | −2.186 | 0.723 | 0.324 | 68.9 | <0.001 |
| Current | −1.991 | −3.032 | −0.950 | <0.001 | 2.7 | 0.421 |
| Atopy | −0.044 | −0.728 | 0.640 | 0.899 | 15.6 | 0.283 |
FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity.
*
Effect Estimate.
†
Heterogeneity of effects between centers.