Table 1 General characteristics of the 7 studies included in the meta-analysis

Kalaivani V. [20], 2014

23

25

10/15

8/17

45 ± 11.73^b

47.84 ± 10.49^b

–

–

Bessa SS. [1], 2012

86

90

11/79

8/82

40

44

28.7

29.1

(16–50)^a

(19–50)^a

(22.8–34)^a

(23.4–33.1)^a

Imbelloni LE, [21], 2010

34

33

26/9

23/10

41.1 ± 12.4^b

45.2 ± 12.1^b

–

–

Tzovaras G. [10], 2008

49

48

29/20

30/18

44

46

25

26

(23–65)^a

(26–65)^a

(18–30)^a

(19–30)^a

Ellakany M. [22], 2013

20

20

8/12

7/13

45.9 ± 13.6^b

44.3 ± 13.2^b

29.8 ± 4.1^b

30.0 ± 3.9^b

Bessa SS [23], 2010

30

30

5/25

6/24

41.4 ± 11.1^b

40.9 ± 11^b

31.3 ± 4.1^b

30.8 ± 6.6^b

Tiwari S [12], 2013

110

114

13/96

16/98

45.07 ± 13.19^b

46.10 ± 12.9^b

-

-