Benefit of combination β-blocker and endoscopic treatment to prevent variceal rebleeding: A meta-analysis

Table 4 Meta-analysis comparing endoscopic therapy (sclerotherapy or banding ligation) with combined endoscopic and β-blocker therapy

	SCL/BL, n/N (%)	SCL/BL + BB, n/N (%)	No. of trials analysed	I2	OR (95% CI)	P for heterogeneity	P-value
All-cause rebleeding
6 mo	121/410 (29.5)	83/428 (19.4)	11	36	1.70 (1.24-2.34)1	0.11	0.01
12 mo	142/376 (37.8)	85/392 (21.7)	10	62.3	2.22 (1.25-3.99)2	0.004	0.007
24 mo	106/272 (40.0)	80/285 (28.1)	7	50	1.67 (0.99-2.81)2	0.08	0.05
Overall	211/537 (39.3)	132/561 (23.5)	16	12.8	2.20 (1.69-2.85)1	0.31	< 0.0001
Mortality
6 mo	39/309 (12.6)	33/319 (10.3)	9	0	1.23 (0.75-2.04)1	0.53	0.41
12 mo	33/246 (13.4)	30/259 (11.6)	7	0	1.18 (0.69-1.99)1	0.79	0.55
24 mo	58/230 (25.2)	37/244 (15.2)	6	0	1.83 (1.16-2.90)1	0.92	0.009
Overall	98/536 (18.3)	76/560 (13.6)	16	0	1.43 (1.03-1.98)1	0.97	0.03

¹Fixed effect model;

²Random effect model. SCL: Sclerotherapy; BL: Banding ligation; BB: β-blockers; OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval.