Fig. 4

Funnel plot and trim-and-fill method were used to assess publication bias. A. Funnel plot for the publication bias underlying the meta-analysis of the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (continuous variable) and short-term mortality in patients with ARDS. B. Funnel plot from a meta-analysis with trim-and-fill method to adjust for publication bias. C. The effect size assessed by using the trim-and-fill method for correction