Statistical Analysis
The statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.4
Cochrane Collaboration. Random effects model was utilised to calculate
the weighted mean difference (WMD) and its associated 95% confidence
intervals (CIs) in order to pool continuous outcomes of interest. Using
a random effects model, odds ratio and accompanying 95% confidence
intervals (CIs). were integrated for the dichotomous outcome. For
adverse events, data was used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and 95%
confidence intervals, which were then meta analysed using a random
effects model. For each outcome, the results were displayed as forest
plots. Sensitivity analysis was used to examine the impact of each study
on the pooled estimate for outcomes where studies showed a high level of
heterogeneity. Following the Cochrane Guidelines, no funnel plots were
built to test for publication bias because the number of papers pooled
for all outcomes was fewer than 10. The aggregated studies’
heterogeneity was quantified using Higgins I2 statistics. [13] A
value of I2 = 25–50% was deemed mild, 50–75% as moderate, and
>75% as severe heterogeneity. Every time, a p-value of
0.05 or less was deemed significant.