Table 2 Subgroup analysis of circulating chemerin levels in MAFLD patients compared with controls

Studies

SMD (95% CI)

I ² (%)

P for heterogeneity

Overall

15

1.32 (0.29, 2.35)

98.9

< 0.0001

Subgroup analysis

Region

Asian

10

1.73 (0.35, 3.10)

99.3

< 0.0001

Others

5

0.50 (-0.61, 1.60)

93.9

< 0.0001

Mean age (y)

<50

12

1.91 (1.44, 2.39)

91.3

< 0.0001

≥ 50

3

-1.10 (-1.93, -0.27)

92

< 0.0001

Study design

Case-control

8

2.04 (1.37, 2.70)

95.5

< 0.0001

Cross-sectional

7

0.48 (-1.01, 1.97)

99

< 0.0001