Table 3 Egger’s linear regression test to measure the funnel plot asymmetry ^*

ε2 vs ε3

−0.66(−3.09-1.77)

−0.93(−3.39-1.54)

−0.22(−3.69-3.23)

−1.06(−6.79-4.66)

0.03(−5.81-5.87)

−1.68(−4.48-1.13)

ε2 carriers vs ε3ε3

−0.03(−2.36-2.29)

−1.38(−4.14-1.38)

0.55(−2.73-3.83)

−0.50(−5.90-4.90)

1.14(−4.80-7.08)

−2.07(−7.60-3.46)

ε2ε2 vs ε3ε3

−0.94(−5.04-3.15)

−0.94(−5.04-3.15)

−3.15(−8.03-1.73)

NA

−2.28(−16.07-11.52)

NA

ε4 vs ε3

2.81(−0.76-6.39)

3.21(−0.14-6.56)

−0.45(−3.63-2.73)

7.63(0.14-15.12)

−1.60(−6.29-3.08)

7.26(2.85-11.66)

ε4 carriers vs ε3ε3

3.49(0.56-6.41)

3.23(0.16-6.31)

0.38(−2.34-3.11)

7.73(3.29-12.18)

0.35(−4.70-5.40)

6.54(3.07-10.01)

ε4ε4 vs ε3ε3

−2.15(−5.52-1.22)

−2.18(−6.29-1.93)

−2.35(−6.03-1.32)

2.01(−1.14-5.15)

−2.26(−6.69-2.17)

NA