Table 3 Evaluations for the potential publication bias within the meta-analysis
Groups of outcomes | Reference count | Estimates | Begg’s test (p value) | Egger’s test (p value) | Publication bias |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (≤ 60 years vs > 60) | 2 | OR with 95% CI | 1.000 | Not reported | Not significant |
Gender (male vs female) | 8 | OR with 95% CI | 0.536 | 0.786 | Not significant |
Depth of invasion (T3/T4 vs T1/T2) | 7 | OR with 95% CI | 0.368 | 0.304 | Not significant |
Differentiation degrees (low vs high) | 5 | OR with 95% CI | 1.000 | 0.745 | Not significant |
H.pylori infection (positive vs negative) | 2 | OR with 95% CI | 1.000 | Not reported | Not significant |
Histological subtypes (intestinal vs diffuse) | 4 | OR with 95% CI | 1.000 | 0.493 | Not significant |
Lymph node invasion (positive vs negative) | 9 | OR with 95% CI | 0.466 | 0.101 | Not significant |
TNM stages (I/II vs III/IV) | 6 | OR with 95% CI | 1.000 | 0.653 | Not significant |
Lymphovascular invasion (positive vs negative) | 5 | OR with 95% CI | 0.221 | 0.180 | Not significant |
Metastasis (positive vs negative) | 5 | OR with 95% CI | 0.221 | 0.295 | Not significant |
Prognostic significance | 6 | HR with 95% CI | 1.000 | 0.781 | Not significant |