Table 3. Assessment of the risk of bias.
Study Selection of exposed cohort Selection of non-exposed cohort Assessment
of exposure
Demonstration that outcome was not present at the start of the study Comparability (basics) Comparability (others) Assessment of outcome Length of follow up Adequacy of follow up Total
Alexander
et al., 1996
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5/9
Alexander
et al., 1998
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5/9
Bonde
et al., 2014
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5/9
Eibensteiner et al., 2005 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5/9
Farag
et al., 2024
1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 5/9
Hovatta et al., 1998 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5/9
Hsu
et al., 2009
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5/9
Kasperczyk
et al., 2008
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6/9
Kuo
et al., 1997
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6/9
Mahmoud
et al., 2005
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6/9
Moran-Martinez
et al., 2013
1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 5/9
Naha and Chowdhury,
2006
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6/9
Naha and Manna, 2007 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6/9
Naha
et al., 2005
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6/9
Saaramen
et al., 1987
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 4/9
Telisman
et al., 2000
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6/9
Wijesekara
et al., 2020.
1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 5/9

Number indicates the number of stars
6-9: Low risk of bias, 4 and 5: moderate risk of bias, ≤ 3: high risk of bias