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Figure 2 Assessment of Publication Bias and Relationship Between Sample Size of the Trial and Treatment Effect

(A) Funnel plot for assessment of publication bias of trials comparing the PCI-based strategy with medical treatment strategy regarding mortality. The circles correspond to the treatment effects from individual trials, the red line shows the summary estimate, and the diagonal lines show the expected 95% confidence intervals around the summary estimate. Note that there is no evident asymmetry of the points in relation to the summary estimate that might indicate a relevant publication bias. (B) Relationship between sample size of the trial and treatment effect regarding mortality. Both treatment effect and sample size are shown on a logarithmic scale. Note the lack of an evident relationship between sample size and observed treatment effect. PCI = percutaneous coronary intervention.