Table 3 Subgroup analysis of the difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and non-malarial controls.

Publication years

 < 0.001

 2020–2023

 − 0.474 [− 0.721 to − 0.227]

0.0

4

 2010–2019

 − 3.124 [− 5.467 to − 0.781]

98.7

12

 2000–2009

 − 1.431 [− 2.909 to 0.046]

91.9

4

 Before 2000

 − 2.179 [− 2.946 to − 1.412]

91.4

8

Study design

0.221

 Case–control study

 − 2.220 [− 3.631 to − 0.809]

97.2

15

 Cross-sectional study

 − 1.780 [− 4.259 to 0.698]

94.8

8

 Cohort study

 − 2.880 [− 4.770 to − 0.990]

98.6

4

 Quasi-experimental study

 − 3.834 [− 4.913 to − 2.756]

N/A

1

Continent

 < 0.001

 Africa

 − 2.646 [− 4.558 to − 0.733]

98.6

15

 Asia

 − 1.574 [− 2.133 to − 1.014]

92.5

12

 South America

 − 5.100 [− 6.654 to − 3.546]

N/A

1

Age group

0.376

 Children

 − 1.391 [− 2.266 to − 0.517]

98.6

8

 Adults

 − 1.818 [− 2.823 to − 0.813]

95.2

11

 Children and adults

 − 4.869 [− 9.212 to − 0.525]

98.7

6

 Not specified

 − 1.227 [− 2.135 to − 0.319]

93.4

3

Plasmodium species

0.133

 P. falciparum

 − 2.471 [− 3.889 to − 1.054]

98.0

20

 P. vivax

 − 1.157 [− 1.910 to − 0.404]

68.5

2

 P. falciparum/P. vivax

 − 0.797 [− 1.509 to − 0.085]

N/A

1

 Not specified

 − 2.126 [− 3.728 to − 0.525]

98.1

5

Symptoms

0.001

 Symptomatic malaria

 − 2.792 [− 4.410 to − 1.174]

98.1

17

 Asymptomatic malaria

0.000 [− 0.469 to 0.469]

1

 Symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria

 − 1.123 [− 1.975 to − 0.272]

90.7

2

 Not specified

 − 1.710 [− 2.931 to − 0.488]

97.3

8

Methods for Plasmodium identification

 < 0.001

 Microscopic method

 − 2.555 [− 3.985 to − 1.125]

98.1

20

 Microscopic method, RDT

 − 0.629 [− 1.212 to − 0.046]

84.8

4

 RDT

 − 0.797 [− 1.509 to − 0.085]

N/A

1

 Not specified

 − 2.875 [− 3.239 to − 2.511]

0

3

Blood samples for albumin measurement

0.570

 Serum

 − 2.192 [− 3.561 to − 0.822]

97.3

17

 Plasma

 − 1.634 [− 2.418 to − 0.849]

98.4

9

 Not specified

 − 6.105 [− 16.67 to 4.465]

98.2

2