Table 7 Meta regression analysis for finding the possible sources of heterogeneity for the association between sRAGEs and WC

Estimate of between-study variance

8.0213

By country (Japan versus others)

-7.489708

0.940

-387.5201 372.5407

By sample size (> 500 versus others)

-1.632441

0.987

-380.3538 377.089

By study quality (high versus others)

-5.712109

0.060

-11.88682 0.4626038

By gender (Male versus others)

-7.489708

0.940

-387.5201 372.5407

By age (< 80 versus others)

-10.77336

0.930

-476.9407 455.394

By baseline WC (> 82 versus others)

5.166737

0.959

-374.1479 384.4813

By sRAGEs type (sRAGE versus esRAGE)

6.775087

0.951

-414.3968 427.9469