Table 2 Proportion of asymptomatic Plasmodium infection per all parasitised individuals in Asian countries.
| Â | Â | Pooled proportion (%) | 95% CI (%) | I2 | Number of studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall proportion |  Overall | 84.4 | 82.6–86.3 | 98.61 | 87 |
Molecular methods (combined) | 88.0 | 86.3–89.7 | 98.25 | 70 | |
Non-molecular methods | 72.2 | 61.9–82.5 | 98.23 | 17 | |
Parts of Asia | |||||
Southeast Asia |  Overall | 87.6 | 85.6–89.5 | 98.58 | 60 |
Molecular methods (combined) | 89.3 | 87.4–91.1 | 98.23 | 56 | |
 Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 83.9 | 79.5–88.3 | 97.27 | 15 | |
 RDT/PCR | 94.3 | 90.8–97.8 | 90.72 | 9 | |
 Microscopy/PCR | 88.6 | 85.2–91.9 | 94.56 | 22 | |
 PCR | 92.5 | 73.7–100 | 99.67 | 8 | |
 Microscopy/LAMP/PCR and restriction enzyme digestion/DNA sequencing | 89.4 | 81.1–94.3 | ND | 1 | |
 LAMP/PCR | 66.7 | 30.0–90.3 | ND | 1 | |
Non-molecular methods | 66.1 | 51.9–80.4 | 97.71 | 4 | |
 Microscopy | 81.8 | 40.7–100 | ND | 3 | |
 Microscopy/RDT | 69.7 | 66.6–62.6 | ND | 1 | |
Myanmar | 96.5 | 49.5–98.5 | 91.64 | 9 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 96.5 | 49.5–98.5 | 91.64 | 9 | |
  RDT/PCR | 84.3 | 76.0–90.1 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 99.3 | 96.7–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 91.2 | 84.2–98.1 | 94.57 | 5 | |
Lao PDR | 94.1 | 88.6–99.7 | 82.04 | 7 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 94.1 | 88.6–99.7 | 82.04 | 7 | |
  RDT/PCR | 100 | 98.9–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 80.5 | 68.1–92.8 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 100 | 87.9–100 | ND | 1 | |
Malaysia | 93.6 | 87.7–99.4 | 78.37 | 8 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 93.6 | 87.7–99.4 | 78.37 | 8 | |
  PCR | 99.7 | 96.4–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 87.7 | 74.2–100 | 87.19 | 5 | |
Cambodia | 91.1 | 85.9–96.3 | 98.58 | 8 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 95.2 | 92.4–98.0 | 94.00 | 7 | |
  RDT/PCR | 98.1 | 96.6–99.6 | ND | 2 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 93.1 | 84.9–100 | ND | 3 | |
  PCR | 100 | 99.9–100 | ND | 2 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 69.7 | 66.6–72.6 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT | 69.7 | 66.6–72.6 | ND | 1 | |
Indonesia | 90.3 | 83.6–97.1 | 88.25 | 6 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 90.3 | 83.6–97.1 | 88.25 | 6 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 98.4 | 91.4–99.7 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 77.2 | 48.4–90.3 | ND | 3 | |
  LAMP/PCR | 66.7 | 30.0–90.3 | ND | 1 | |
  PCR | 100 | 86.7–100 | ND | 1 | |
Thailand | 87.4 | 72.7–100 | 96.73 | 10 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 89.7 | 85.7–93.7 | 28.58 | 7 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 90.8 | 82.2–99.5 | 44.90 | 4 | |
  Microscopy/LAMP/PCR | 89.4 | 81.1–94.3 | ND | 1 | |
  RDT/PCR | 88.1 | 83.8–92.5 | ND | 2 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 81.8 | 40.7–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy | 81.8 | 40.7–100 | ND | 3 | |
Vietnam | 69.7 | 38.4–100 | 98.48 | 6 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 69.7 | 38.4–100 | 98.48 | 6 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 59.4 | 12.8–100 | ND | 3 | |
  RDT/PCR | 100 | 93.7–100 | ND | 1 | |
  PCR | 100 | 61.0–100 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 40.6 | 31.5–50.3 | ND | 1 | |
Philippines | 23.3 | 12.3–34.4 | ND | 2 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 23.3 | 12.3–34.4 | ND | 2 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 19.6 | 10.7–33.2 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 75.0 | 30.1–95.4 | ND | 1 | |
Democratic Republic of East Timor (Microscopy/PCR) | 100 | 74.1–100 | ND | 1 | |
Thailand and Myanmar (Microscopy/PCR) | 100 | 95.3–100 | ND | 1 | |
Thailand–Myanmar border, Cambodia, Vietnam (Microscopy/RDT/PCR) | 94.9 | 92.6–96.6 | ND | 1 | |
Thailand–Myanmar border, Cambodia (PCR) | 53.6 | 51.6–55.6 | ND | 1 | |
Western Asia |  Overall | 74.3 | 56.4–92.3 | 97.33 | 7 |
Molecular methods (combined) | 64.8 | 30.6–99.0 | ND | 3 | |
 Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 62.7 | 56.3–69.2 | ND | 2 | |
 Microscopy/PCR | 100 | 61.0–100 | ND | 1 | |
Non-molecular methods | 81.7 | 60.8–100 | 97.44 | 4 | |
 Microscopy | 81.7 | 60.8–100 | 97.44 | 4 | |
Iran | 88.2 | 70.3–100 | ND | 2 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 100 | 61.1–100 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 100 | 61.1–100 | ND | 1 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 70.0 | 39.7–89.2 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy | 70.0 | 39.7–89.2 | ND | 1 | |
Yemen | 80.8 | 60.7–100 | 98.10 | 4 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 70.0 | 62.5–76.6 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 70.0 | 62.5–76.6 | ND | 1 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 84.4 | 61.6–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy | 84.4 | 61.6–100 | ND | 3 | |
Saudi Arabia (Microscopy/RDT/PCR) | 26.7 | 14.2–44.4 | ND | 1 | |
South Asia |  Overall | 78.0 | 70.8–85.1 | 98.47 | 20 |
Molecular methods (combined) | 87.2 | 79.9–94.5 | 98.10 | 11 | |
 Microscopy/PCR | 74.5 | 71.2–77.5 | ND | 1 | |
 Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 88.2 | 81.2–95.2 | 97.82 | 9 | |
 RDT/PCR | 100 | 51.0–100 | ND | 1 | |
Non-molecular methods | 66.1 | 51.9–80.4 | 97.71 | 9 | |
 Microscopy | 86.3 | 73.6–99.0 | ND | 3 | |
 Microscopy/RDT | 56.2 | 32.0–80.4 | ND | 3 | |
 RDT | 6.1 | 15.8–96.3 | ND | 3 | |
India | 77.4 | 68.6–86.2 | 98.65 | 14 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 86.0 | 77.1–95.0 | 98.14 | 6 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 86.0 | 77.1–95.0 | 98.14 | 6 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 70.9 | 56.5–85.2 | 97.72 | 8 | |
  RDT | 56.1 | 15.8–96.3 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy | 86.3 | 73.6–99.0 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy/RDT | 70.4 | 63.9–77.0 | ND | 2 | |
Bangladesh | 70.9 | 53.3–88.5 | 98.71 | 4 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 83.9 | 66.6–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 74.5 | 71.2–77.5 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 92.2 | 90.0–94.5 | ND | 2 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 25.7 | 14.2–42.1 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT | 25.7 | 14.2–42.1 | ND | 1 | |
Pakistan (Microscopy/RDT/PCR) | 100 | 82.3–100 | ND | 1 | |
Bhutan (RDT/PCR) | 100 | 51.0–100 | ND | 1 | |
Participants | Participants in communities (all age groups) | 85.2 | 83.3–87.2 | 98.63 | 60 |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 87.2 | 85.3–89.2 | 98.51 | 54 | |
  PCR | 90.1 | 68.0–100 | 99.76 | 6 | |
  RDT/PCR | 92.3 | 86.7–97.8 | 92.05 | 7 | |
 LAMP/PCR | 66.7 | 30.0–90.3 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 91.0 | 87.6–94.4 | 95.03 | 19 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 80.1 | 76.0–84.2 | 98.02 | 20 | |
  Microscopy/LAMP/PCR and restriction enzyme digestion/DNA sequencing | 89.4 | 81.1–94.3 | ND | 1 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 69.2 | 61.8–76.6 | 89.28 | 6 | |
  Microscopy | 58.8 | 51.6–65.9 | ND | 2 | |
  RDT | 78.3 | 75.5–81.1 | ND | 2 | |
  Microscopy/RDT | 69.8 | 66.9–72.6 | ND | 2 | |
Participants in communities (children) | 91.2 | 84.1–98.4 | 95.03 | 8 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 89.1 | 78.6–99.6 | 94.14 | 5 | |
  RDT/PCR | 100 | 83.9–100 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 96.1 | 91.8–100 | ND | 2 | |
  PCR | 100 | 86.7–100 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 86.1 | 83.5–88.3 | ND | 1 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 93.7 | 80.7–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy | 93.7 | 80.7–100 | ND | 3 | |
Participants in communities (adults) | 97.9 | 94.2–100 | 75.32 | 4 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 97.5 | 93.4–100 | ND | 3 | |
  RDT/PCR | 100 | 97.9–100 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 98.1 | 95.6–100 | ND | 2 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 100 | 81.6–100 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy | 100 | 81.6–100 | ND | 1 | |
Pregnant women | 59.8 | 31.5–88.1 | 99.27 | 6 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 98.1 | 95.1–100 | ND | 2 | |
  Microscopy/RDT/PCR | 98.1 | 95.1–100 | ND | 2 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 42.5 | 23.3–61.6 | 96.64 | 4 | |
  Microscopy | 49.1 | 45.2–52.9 | ND | 1 | |
  RDT | 23.4 | 17.8–30.2 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/RDT | 58.6 | 51.1–66.0 | ND | 2 | |
Migrant workers | 97.8 | 90.2–100 | 0 | 5 | |
 Molecular methods (combined) | 100 | 89.9–100 | ND | 2 | |
  PCR | 100 | 61.0–100 | ND | 1 | |
  Microscopy/PCR | 100 | 79.6–100 | ND | 1 | |
 Non-molecular methods | 92.2 | 74.3–100 | ND | 3 | |
  Microscopy | 92.2 | 74.3–100 | ND | 3 | |
Participants in communities (not specified age group) (Microscopy/RDT/PCR) | 100 | 89.3–100 | ND | 1 | |
Participants had undergone training in the forest (Microscopy/PCR) | 100 | 89.3–100 | ND | 2 | |
Participants in communities and migrant workers (RDT/PCR) | 100 | 51.0–100 | ND | 1 | |
