3.4 Meta-Analysis:
Collectively, 87646 patients from 38 studies were included in the
meta-analysis. A pooled fold change estimation of 2.305 (95% CI:
2.1810to 2.4370) was calculated for mortality in corticosteroid therapy
versus standard therapy. P-value = 0.0001 was obtained from a
meta-analysis. Heterogeneity (I 2 values) was observed
to be 65.50.Figure-2 represents the forest plot of the primary
meta-analysis of the pooled fold change estimation values along with the
95% CI from corticosteroid therapy.
A pooled fold change estimation of 1.206 (95%CI: 1.0770 to 1.3500) was
calculated for mortality in methylprednisolone therapy versus standard
therapy. P-value = 0.0001 was obtained from a meta-analysis.
Heterogeneity (I 2 values) was observed to be 72.78.
Figure-3 represents the forest plot of the primary meta-analysis of the
pooled fold change estimation values along with the 95% CI from
methylprednisolone therapy.
A pooled fold change estimation of 1.388 (95% CI: 1.1870 to 1.6220) was
calculated for mortality in dexamethasone therapy versus standard
therapy. P-value = 0.0001 was obtained from a meta-analysis.
Heterogeneity (I 2 values) was observed to be
zero.Figure-4 represents the forest plot of the primary meta-analysis of
the pooled fold change estimation values along with the 95% CI from
dexamethasone therapy.
The graphical representation of the x-axis of the plot is the pooled
fold change estimation, and 95% of the included studies and the blue
triangle with the line represent the effect size of mortality in
COVID-19 patients.If the pooled fold change estimation value is more
than 1, it favors the increased mortality in the intervention treatment
group as compared to standard treatment group while less than 1, favor
the beneficial effect of intervention group on the prevention of the
mortality in COVID-19 patients as compared to standard treatment group.