Effect of Exposure to Famine during Early Life on Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Adulthood: A Meta-Analysis

Table 4

Results of subgroup analysis for famine exposure and MetS risk.

Subgroup	No. of studies	OR (95% CI)	(%)
Study design
Cross-sectional	34	1.29 (1.18-1.42)	54.4	<0.001
Cohort	5	1.22 (1.11-1.35)	40.0	0.154
Gender
Male	9	1.04 (0.96-1.13)	32.7	0.156
Female	9	1.48 (1.31-1.67)	0	0.615
Male/female	21	1.32 (1.21-1.45)	39.9	0.031
Exposure type
Fetal	14	1.27 (1.14-1.43)	48.2	0.023
Childhood	20	1.29 (1.16-1.44)	54.7	0.002
Adolescence/adult	5	1.03 (0.65-1.61)	65.9	0.020
Definition of MetS
NCEP-ATPIII	20	1.24 (1.14-1.35)	6.0	0.382
CDS 2004	5	1.25 (1.07-1.47)	73.4	0.005
CDS 2013	6	1.39 (1.24-1.55)	0	0.594
IDF	13	1.21 (1.07-1.37)	56.0	0.007
Metabolic syndrome proxy	1	2.14 (1.48-3.47)	—	—
Causes of famine
Natural disaster	29	1.28 (1.17-1.40)	58.4	<0.001
War	10	1.28 (1.13-1.46)	20.9	0.251
Adjust for age
Yes	23	1.27 (1.15-1.40)	58.6	<0.001
No	16	1.29 (1.13-1.46)	40.9	0.046
Adjust for smoking
Yes	32	1.15 (1.03-1.29)	42.7	0.006
No	7	1.31 (1.12-1.54)	73.5	0.001
Adjust for drinking
Yes	26	1.28 (1.20-1.37)	24.8	0.125
No	13	1.27 (1.09-1.47)	72.2	<0.001
Adjust for physical activity
Yes	23	1.25 (1.16-1.35)	28.3	0.102
No	16	1.29 (1.15-1.46)	68.7	<0.001