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.