Nonselective beta-blockers in cirrhotic patients with no or small varices: A meta-analysis

Table 2 Patient characteristics of included studies

Ref.	Groups	n	Age (yr)	Sex (M/F)	Etiology (alcohol/viral/other)	Child-Pugh score or class A/B/C	Follow-up (mo)	Lost to follow-up	Small varices, n	No varices, n
Andreani et al[11]	Propranolol	43	55.0 ± 1.3	27/16	33/-/10	10/19/13	NA	6	15	0
	Placebo	41	55.6 ± 1.7	23/18	33/-/8	10/21/10	NA	2	17	0
Conn et al[16]	Propranolol	51	54 ± 9	38/13	39/-/12	Mean: 8.0	17.1 ± 10.9	NA	26	0
	Placebo	51	54 ± 11	35/16	41/-/10	Mean: 8.3	16.3 ± 12	NA	29	0
Calés et al[12]	Propranolol	102	52.7 ± 10.4	69/33	88/-/24	6.8 ± 2.1	NA	41	60	42
	Placebo	104	52.7 ± 11.4	68/36	81/-/23	6.8 ± 2.0	NA	32	67	37
Merkel et al[14]	Nadolol	83	56 ± 9	45/38	47/34/2	6.8 ± 1.6	36 ± 18	11	83	0
	Placebo	78	57 ± 9	38/40	45/28/5	7.1 ± 1.9	35 ± 15	10	78	0
Groszmann et al[13]	Timolol	108	46 ± 11	70/38	26/73/9	5.4 ± 0.7	Median: 52.7	0	0	108
	Placebo	105	44 ± 11	56/49	25/69/11	5.4 ± 0.8	Median: 57.9	0	0	105
Sarin et al[15]	Propranolol	77	42 ± 13	63/14	27/42/8	7.4 ± 1.9	25 ± 12.6	0	77	0
	Placebo	73	44 ± 13	57/16	26/38/9	7.7 ± 2.3		0	73	0

F: Female; M: Male; NA: Not available. Note: data are expressed as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.