Systematic review and meta-analysis of dysregulated miRNAs in patients with severe pneumonia

Abstract A meta-analysis was conducted to systematically assess the diagnostic efficacy of miRNAs in severe pneumonia, aiming to identify valuable diagnostic markers for this critical condition. Based on the research topic, relevant search terms were carefully formulated, leading to a systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to derive the pooled area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity results. Diagnostic likelihood ratio (DLR) positive, DLR negative, diagnostic score, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated and presented by forest plots. Subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate the source of heterogeneity. 12 articles (encompassing 17 tests) were deemed suitable for inclusion based on predetermined criteria. The findings revealed a sensitivity of 0.79 (95 % CI=0.73–0.84) and specificity of 0.88 (95 % CI=0.81–0.93), with an AUC of 0.89 (95 % CI=0.86–0.92). Additionally, the positive DLR was 6.82 (95 % CI=4.25–10.95), while the negative DLR stood at 0.24 (95 % CI=0.19–0.31). The overall diagnostic score reached 3.34 (95 % CI=2.82–3.86), and DOR was calculated at 28.28 (95 % CI=16.80–47.58), underscoring a robust diagnostic capability for pneumonia. Subgroup analyses suggested that the observed high heterogeneity could be attributed to variations in specimen types. Importantly, the assessment indicated no significant publication bias among the included tests. MiRNAs have high diagnostic value in severe pneumonia, demonstrating high sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy.