Table 5 Synthesis of results
| Â | Sample size | Number of studies | Results | Publication bias | Inconsistency (-) | Imprecision (-) | Indirectness | Study limitations/quality | Effect size/dose response | Possible confounding/bias | Overall quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Consistency (+) | Precision (+) | ||||||||||
Correlation Kyphosis and age | 6793 | 30 | Table 4 | ND | (+) All correlations had positive sign | T1–T12: p > 0.05 (−) T2–T12: p > 0.05 (−) T4–T12: p < 0.05 (+) T5–T12: p < 0.05 (+) | None | (+) 9 HQ, 21 MQ | N/A |  | (+)(+)(+) Moderate |
Reference values | 6793 | 30 | Table 4 | ND | (−) Statistical significance was achieved in 6 out of 16 cases. | (−) Ranges did not overlap in 2 out of 6 cases. The between-range difference was always smaller than the SEM. | None | (+) 9 HQ, 21 MQ | N/A | (+) 12 articles divided sample by age groups | (+)(+) Low |
Ethnic group differences | 5788 | 25 | Table 4 | ND | (−) Statistical significance was achieved in 6 out of 9 cases. | (−) Ranges did not overlap in 2 out of 6 cases. In 1 of the 2 cases, the between-range difference was greater than the SEM. | None | (+) 8 HQ, 17 MQ | N/A | (+) 14 articles specified the ethnicity of their sample | (+)(+) Low |
Gender differences | 3937 | 13 | Table 4 | ND | (+) No between-group comparisons achieved statistical significance | (−) | None | (+) 3 HQ, 10 MQ | N/A |  | (+)(+)(+) Moderate |