Table 6

Characteristics of the patients included in the meta-analysis


Total
%
Control group
%
Intervention group
%

Level of care






Primary care
4505
57.8
2127
57.6
2378
58.1
Specialised care
3284
42.2
1567
42.4
1717
41.9
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Kind of treatment






Pharmacological
5706
73.3
2684
72.7
3022
73.8
Non-pharmacological
2083
26.7
1010
27.3
1073
26.2
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Outcome assessed






Anxiety/depression
1195
15.3
570
15.4
625
15.3
Quality of life
115
1.5
51
1.4
64
1.6
Pain
2074
26.6
980
26.5
1094
26.7
Fatigue
650
8.3
320
8.7
330
8.1
Tender points
1533
19.7
738
20.0
795
19.4
Insomnia
397
5.1
196
5.3
201
4.9
Global function
1825
23.4
839
22.7
986
24.1
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Methodological quality






1 to 2
595
7.6
289
7.8
306
7.5
3 to 4
3396
43.6
1577
42.7
1819
44.4
5 to 6
3798
48.8
1828
49.5
1970
48.1
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Length of treatment (weeks)






0 to 8
3644
46.8
1750
47.4
1894
46.3
09 to 16
3467
44.5
1678
45.4
1789
43.7
17 to 24
678
8.7
266
7.2
412
10.1
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Age






30 to 39
253
3.2
125
3.4
128
3.1
40 to 49
6662
85.5
3140
85.0
3522
86.0
50 to 59
874
11.2
429
11.6
445
10.9
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Percentage of women






< 80
151
1.9
73
2.0
78
1.9
80 to 89
2258
29.0
1111
30.1
1147
28.0
90 to 99
2874
36.9
1297
35.1
1577
38.5
100
2506
32.2
1213
32.8
1293
31.6
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Duration of the disorder (years)






0 to 5
1459
25.3
710
26.3
749
24.5
6 to 10
2987
51.9
1344
49.7
1643
53.8
11 to 15
1310
22.8
649
24.0
661
21.7
Overall
5756
100.0
2703
100.0
3053
100.0







Country






Germany
410
5.3
206
5.6
204
5.0
Belgium
459
5.9
216
5.8
243
5.9
Brasil
278
3.6
132
3.6
146
3.6
Canada
1655
21.2
737
20.0
918
22.4
Finland
488
6.3
240
6.5
248
6.1
Holland
174
2.2
86
2.3
88
2.1
Norway
195
2.5
102
2.8
93
2.3
Sweden
254
3.3
126
3.4
128
3.1
Switzerland
276
3.5
135
3.7
141
3.4
Turkey
298
3.8
148
4.0
150
3.7
USA
3302
42.4
1566
42.4
1736
42.4
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0







Year of publication






1994
620
8.0
234
6.3
386
9.4
1995
178
2.3
86
2.3
92
2,.2
1996
1306
16.8
637
17.2
669
16.3
1997
38
0.5
18
0.5
20
0.5
1998
724
9.3
349
9.4
375
9.2
2000
207
2.7
102
2.8
105
2.6
2001
926
11.9
460
12.5
466
11.4
2002
780
10.0
372
10.1
408
10.0
2003
392
5.0
196
5.3
196
4.8
2004
1241
15.9
621
16.8
620
15.1
2005
1377
17.7
619
16.8
758
18.5
Overall
7789
100.0
3694
100.0
4095
100.0

Garcia-Campayo et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 10:R81   doi:10.1186/ar2455