Table 1 Mixed-effects meta-regression.

From: Meta-analysis of the normal diffusion tensor imaging values of the median nerve and how they change in carpal tunnel syndrome

Covariates

Adjusted change in fractional anisotropy (β)

95% CI

Resampled p-value

Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

− 8.57 × 10–2

− 0.13, − 0.06

0.000

Age in years

− 2.92 × 10–3

− 4.54 × 10–3, − 7.34 × 10–4

0.007

Repetition time (ms)

− 8.98 × 10–6

− 1.14 × 10–5, 6.77 × 10–8

0.053

Number of diffusion sensitising gradient directions

2.27 × 10–3

− 8.39 × 10–4, 2.99 × 10–3

0.271

Echo time (ms) and b-value (mm2/s)*

− 1.51 × 10–8

− 5.27 × 10–7, 4.86 × 10–7

0.936

  1. Adjusted R2 = 46%, tau2 = 0·0047, I2 = 97%.
  2. *Echo time is a function of the b-value as larger b-values mandate relatively longer echo times, so these variables are modelled as the product to minimise the number of covariables, mitigate collinearity and model the interaction between the two variables.
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