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Table 3 Subgroup analysis of medical fields, stratified by funding source, comparing OR of favorable primary outcome between intervention and control groups

From: The association of funding source on effect size in randomized controlled trials: 2013–2015 – a cross-sectional survey and meta-analysis

Funding source

Cancer, OR (95% CI)

Cardiovascular, OR (95% CI)

Infectious disease, OR (95% CI)

Neurology, OR (95% CI)

Autoimmunity, OR (95% CI)

Diabetes, OR (95% CI)

Other, OR (95% CI)

Profit

1.89 (1.65–2.17)

1.83 (1.50–2.22)

1.96 (1.57–2.44)

2.12 (1.36–3.30)

4.34 (2.72–6.94)

1.86 (1.00–3.45)

2.52 (1.59–3.97)

Mixed funding

1.55 (1.26–1.90)

1.17 (1.03–1.20)a

1.45 (1.17–1.79)

1.57 (1.16–2.14)

1.46 (1.05–2.03)a

1.05 (0.91–1.20)

1.49 (0.96–2.07)

Nonprofit

1.13 (0.87–1.43)a

1.56 (1.37–1.76)b

1.33 (1.18–1.50)a

1.13 (0.97–1.32)a

2.39 (1.20–4.77)

1.12 (0.96–1.29)

1.31 (1.23–1.41)a

  1. aDenotes statistical difference compared with the for-profit funded studies (p < 0.05)
  2. bDenotes statistical difference compared with mixed funded studies (p < 0.05)