3.6 Publication bias
To investigate potential publication bias of the association of a
spontaneous Type-1 Brugada pattern and increased risk of MAE, we
examined the funnel plot of the included studies in assessing change in
log OR of MAE (Figure 6). The vertical axis represents study size
(standard error) while the horizontal axis represents effect size (log
OR). From this plot, no bias was observed because distribution of
studies was symmetrical on both sides of the mean. Egger’s test showed
no small study bias (p = 0.688).
Only four studies included in this meta-analysis could be used to assess
the association between ventricular tachyarrhythmia during drug
challenge testing and increased risk of MAE. Thus, we did not perform a
funnel plot or Egger’s test (12).