Table 3 Summary of the meta-analysis findings of the differences of clinical and laboratory parameters between the DR4+ and DR4- in RA patients

ESR

10

Yes

590

762

0.26 (0.15, 0.37)

<0.00001

p=0.16, I [2]=31%

Fixed

  Northerner

7

Yes

458

562

0.22 [0.09, 0.35]

0.0007

p=0.13, I [2]=40%

  Southerner

3

Yes

132

200

0.39 [0.17, 0.61]

0.0006

p=0.16, I [2]=31%

CRP

6

Yes

325

436

0.26 [0.12, 0.41]

0.0005

p=0.11, I [2]=44%

Fixed

RF

4

Yes

139

246

0.44 [0.23, 0.65]

<0.00001

p=0.42, I [2]=0%

Fixed

Anti-CCP

2

Yes

52

123

0.58 [0.24, 0.91]

0.0007

p=0.28, I [2]=15%

Fixed

Duration of morning stiffness

5

Yes

228

337

0.23 [-0.01, 0.48]

0.06

p=0.11, I [2]=47%

Fixed

Number of swollen joints

7

Yes

414

527

0.13 [-0.00, 0.26]

0.05

p=0.29, I [2]=18%

Fixed

Number of joint tenderness

6

Yes

368

437

0.08 [-0.06, 0.23]

0.25

p=0.67, I [2]=0%

Fixed

X-ray phases

8

Yes

137/368*

142/365*

0.93 (0.66–1.29)’

0.65

p=0.1, I [2]=42%

Fixed

  I ~ II

3

Yes

44/108*

63/135*

0.47 (0.26–0.87)’

0.02

p=0.75, I [2]=0%

  III ~ IV

5

Yes

93/260*

79/230*

1.27 (0.84–1.92)’

0.25

p=0.26, I [2]=25%

Joint function

8

Yes

93/260*

79/230*

0.89 (0.65–1.23)’

0.6

p=0.02, I [2]=58%

Random

  I ~ II

3

Yes

124/364*

182/463*

0.59 (0.35–1)’

0.05

p=0.51, I [2]=0%

  III ~ IV

5

Yes

56/149*

96/170*

1.14 (0.76–1.69)’

0.88

p=0.02, I [2]=65%