Table 3 Subgroup meta-analyses of the relationship between AGR and OS via multivariate analyses
Potential confounding factor | No. of studies | No. cases | Hazard ratio with 95%CI | P value | I2 (%) for Heterogeneity | P value for Heterogeneity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall survival (OS) | 17 | 6704 | 1.75 (1.54–2.00) | 0.000 | 34.0 | 0.084 |
Methods for choosing AFR cut-off value | ||||||
 X-tile | 6 | 3060 | 1.47 (1.19–1.81) | 0.000 | 34.6 | 0.177 |
 ROC | 9 | 3085 | 2.07 (1.76–2.43) | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.886 |
 Score | 2 | 559 | 1.62 (1.06–2.47) | 0.024 | 50.2 | 0.156 |
Cut-off value of AFR | ||||||
 > 9.7 | 7 | 3215 | 1.76 (1.36–2.28) | 0.000 | 61.4 | 0.017 |
 ≤ 9.7 | 8 | 2930 | 1.82 (1.53–2.15) | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.623 |
 Score = 0 | 2 | 559 | 1.62 (1.06–2.47) | 0.024 | 50.2 | 0.156 |
Study designed type | ||||||
 Retrospective | 14 | 5437 | 1.78 (1.52–2.08) | 0.000 | 42.6 | 0.046 |
 Prospective | 3 | 1267 | 1.71 (1.31–2.23) | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.457 |
Number of cases | ||||||
 < 360 | 9 | 1948 | 2.04 (1.66–2.50) | 0.000 | 21.5 | 0.252 |
 ≥ 360 | 8 | 4756 | 1.53 (1.35–1.74) | 0.000 | 2.7 | 0.409 |
Cancer classification | ||||||
 Lung cancers | 3 | 1211 | 1.83 (1.44–2.33) | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.956 |
 Digestive cancers | 10 | 3700 | 1.58 (1.32–1.90) | 0.000 | 43.9 | 0.075 |
 Gynecological cancers | 2 | 499 | 2.16 (1.47–3.17) | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.944 |
 Other cancers | 3 | 1294 | 2.37 (1.68–3.34) | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.431 |
Publication time | ||||||
 After 2019 | 5 | 1441 | 1.70 (1.33–2.17) | 0.000 | 23.9 | 0.262 |
 Before 2019 | 12 | 5263 | 1.79 (1.52–2.11) | 0.000 | 42.0 | 0.062 |
Treatment option | ||||||
 Surgical resection | 12 | 5298 | 1.73 (1.50–2.01) | 0.000 | 33.4 | 0.123 |
 Others | 5 | 1406 | 1.80 (1.31–2.49) | 0.000 | 45.3 | 0.120 |