Comprehensive effects of traditional Chinese medicine treatment on heart failure and changes in B-type natriuretic peptide levels: A meta-analysis

Table 1 Basic characteristics of the included studies

Ref.	Syndrome differ classification	n (T/C)	Interventions		Course of treatment	Outcome indicators
			T	C
Wang et al[13]	Not mentioned	45/45	TCM + CWM	CWM	3 wk	1,2,3
Leung et al[14]	Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome, Qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome, syndrome of heart-lung Qi deficiency	63/63	TCM + CWM	CWM	3 months	1,3
	Syndrome of water overflowing due to Yang deficiency, syndrome of Yang deficiency of both heart and kidney
Tang et al[15]	Syndrome of paroxysmal stridor with sputum, syndrome of wheezes when sitting, syndrome of pathogenic water attacking heart	33/33	TCM + CWM	CWM	2 wk	1,2
Wang et al[16]	Syndrome of water overflowing due to Yang deficiency	30/32	TCM + CWM	CWM	8 wk	1,2,3
Vorovich et al[17]	Syndrome of heart-lung deficiency	30/30	TCM + CWM	CWM	12 wk	1,2,3
Elkammash et al[18]	Qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome	98/98	TCM + CWM	CWM	2 wk	1,2,3
Zou et al[19]	Not mentioned	74/74	TCM + CWM	CWM	8 wk	1,3
Li et al[20]	Yang-deficiency-water-stasis syndrome	40/40	TCM + CWM	CWM	12 wk	1,3
Guan et al[21]	Not mentioned	55/55	TCM + CWM	CWM	4 wk	1,3
Li et al[22]	Syndrome of blood stasis and water retention	46/46	TCM + CWM	CWM	1 wk	1,2,3
Nie et al[23]	Not mentioned	30/30	TCM + CWM	CWM	2 wk	1
Zhang et al[24]	Qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome	42/42	TCM + CWM	CWM	2 wk	1
Li et al[25]	Not mentioned	100/100	TCM + CWM	CWM	2 wk	1
Greene et al[26]	Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome	45/45	TCM + CWM	CWM	2 wk	1
Wilcox et al[27]	Heart failure with Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome	53/53	TCM + CWM	CWM	4 wk	1
Chen et al[28]	Syndrome of qi deficiency of heart and kidney, syndrome of blood stasis and water retention	45/45	TCM + CWM	CWM	8 wk	1,3

¹Comprehensive clinical outcomes.

²Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores.

³B-type natriuretic peptide levels.

T: The TCM group; C: The CWM group; TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine; CWM: Conventional Western medicine.

Table 2 Rating of quality of evidence

Outcome indicators	Number of trials (practice/sample size)	Analysis results	Limitation	Inconsistency	Indirectness	Inaccuracy	Publication biases	Quality of evidence
Improving comprehensive clinical outcomes	16 (1294/1659)	RR = 3.20; 95%CI = 2.40, 4.26; P < 0.00001	Downgrade by one level1	No	No	No	Downgrade by one level3	Low
Lowering TCM syndrome scores	4 (400)	WMD = -0.54; 95%CI = -0.61, -0.47, P < 0.00001	Downgrade by one level1	No	No	Downgrade by half a level2	Not found	Medium
Reducing BNP levels	3 (300)	WMD = -142.07, 95%CI = -147.56, -136.57, P < 0.00001	Downgrade by one level1	No	No	Downgrade by half a level2	Not found	Medium

¹Inadequate allocation concealment and lack of blinding.

²The total sample size does not match the optimal sample size.

³Suspicion of publication biases. TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine.