Meta-regression analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato seroprevalence determined using methods confirmed by WB and methods not confirmed by WB after eliminating confounding risk factors
| Methods conf WB | Methods not conf WB | Random effects model OR (95% CI) | P value | Cohort | |
| Overall | 9.8% (7.5%; 12.3%) | 17.5% (14.2%; 21.1%) | 1.9 (1.6 to 2.2) | <0.0001 | 38 |
| Sex | |||||
| Female | 5.1% (3.5%; 7.1%) | 10.4% (7.1%; 14.2%) | 1.7 (1.3 to 2.2) | 0.0002 | 14 |
| Male | 5.4% (2.6%; 9.2%) | 11.1% (5.1%; 18.9%) | 1.8 (1.2 to 2.8) | 0.0055 | 7 |
| Age (years) | |||||
| <40 | 8.1% (3.7%; 14.0%) | 15.9% (8.2%; 25.6%) | 1.6 (1.2 to 2.19) | 0.0030 | 6 |
| 40–49 | 6.2% (0.0%; 26.4%) | 18.0% (2.6%; 43.1%) | 2.4 (1.6 to 3.6) | <0.0001 | 2 |
| ≥50 | 8.8% (1.2%; 22.6%) | 18.0% (7.2%; 32.4%) | 1.9 (1.4 to 2.4) | <0.0001 | 6 |
| Residence | |||||
| Rural | 9.5% (3.6%; 17.7%) | 13.4% (3.1%; 29.3%) | 1.4 (1.1 to 1.9) | 0.0082 | 3 |
| Urban | 5.3% (1.0%; 12.8%) | 8.9% (0.8%; 24.6%) | 1.5 (1.0 to 2.2) | 0.0451 | 3 |
| Tick bites | |||||
| Not suffering | 3.2% (0.8%; 6.9%) | 14.3% (8.7%; 20.9%) | 4.5 (1.6 to 12.9) | 0.0052 | 1 |
| Suffering | 16.2% (4.6%; 33.1%) | 38.0% (2.7%; 67.5%) | 2.4 (1.1 to 5.0) | 0.0215 | 4 |
| Different continents | |||||
| Europe | 10.3% (7.5%; 14.1%) | 17.2% (11.7%; 23.8%) | 1.7 (1.5 to 1.9) | <0.0001 | 12 |
| America | 4.1% (0.7%; 10.1%) | 10.6% (6.7%; 15.4%) | 3.8 (1.9 to 7.6) | 0.0001 | 6 |
| Asia | 6.6% (3.3%; 10.9%) | 13.8% (8.2%; 20.6%) | 2.3 (1.7 to 3.1) | <0.0001 | 10 |
| Different populations | |||||
| General | 5.3% (3.7%; 7.3%) | 9.7% (7.5%; 12.1%) | 1.9 (1.5 to 2.3) | <0.001 | 22 |
| High risk | 10.9% (6.6%; 16.2%) | 22.0% (16.1%; 28.7%) | 1.5 (1.3 to 1.7) | <0.001 | 12 |
| Tick bitten | 16.2% (4.6%; 33.1%) | 38.0% (12.7%; 67.5%) | 2.4 (1.1 to 5.0) | 0.0215 | 4 |
| LB-like symptoms | 18.9% (10.7%; 28.7%) | 26.5% (14.6%; 40.6%) | 1.4 (1.1 to 1.8) | 0.007 | 6 |
| Antibodies | |||||
| IgG | 7.8% (4.8%; 11.4%) | 12.8% (7.8%; 18.9%) | 1.7 (1.4 to 2.0) | <0.001 | 12 |
| IgM | 4.2% (2.7%; 5.9%) | 12.2% (9.2%; 15.4%) | 3.1 (2.1 to 4.4) | <0.001 | 12 |
| IgG+IgM | 0.2% (0.0%; 0.7%) | 2.2% (0.4%; 5.4%) | 4.8 (2.0 to 11.5) | <0.001 | 3 |
| Two time periods | |||||
| 2001–2010 | 7.1% (3.6%; 11.6%) | 14.3% (11.2%; 17.7%) | 2.5 (1.4 to 4.4) | 0.0017 | 9 |
| 2011–2021 | 10.1% (7.3%; 13.4%) | 17.9% (13.8%; 22.4%) | 1.9 (1.6 to 2.3) | <0.001 | 26 |
Methods conf WB group was considered the reference group when conducting meta-regression analysis.
LB, Lyme borreliosis; WB, western blotting.