Benefit of combination β-blocker and endoscopic treatment to prevent variceal rebleeding: A meta-analysis

Table 5 Subgroup meta-analysis including trials comparing sclerotherapy with sclerotherapy and β-blockers

	SCL, n/N (%)	SCL + BB, n/N (%)	No. of trials analysed	I2	OR (95% CI)	P for heterogeneity	P-value
All-cause rebleeding
6 mo	91/311 (29.2)	74/325 (22.8)	9	5.8	1.36 (0.95-1.95)1	0.39	0.09
12 mo	105/277 (38.0)	69/289 (23.9)	8	69.0	2.03 (0.97-4.25)2	0.002	0.06
24 mo	61/173 (35.3)	56/182 (30.8)	5	45.7	1.26 (0.80-2.00)1	0.12	0.33
Overall	162/413 (39.2)	110/433 (25.4)	13	20.7	2.00 (1.49-2.69)1	0.23	< 0.0001
Mortality
6 mo	30/247 (12.1)	29/259 (11.2)	8	0	1.07 (0.61-1.87)1	0.57	0.82
12 mo	21/184 (11.4)	23/199 (11.6)	6	0	0.98 (0.52-1.85)1	0.83	0.96
24 mo	34/168 (20.2)	26/184 (14.1)	5	0	1.56 (0.89-2.73)1	0.97	0.12
Overall	71/412 (17.2)	59/432 (13.7)	13	0	1.33 (0.91-1.94)1	0.97	0.14

¹Fixed effect model;

²Random effect model. SCL: Sclerotherapy; BL: Banding ligation; BB: β-blockers; OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval.