RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF), a common cardiovascular condition, is characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. While traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often used as a complementary approach in HF management, systematic evaluations of its impact on clinical outcomes, TCM syndrome scores, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are lacking. This study fills this gap through a comprehensive analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on TCM for HF treatment. It encompasses an assessment of methodological quality, a meta-analysis, and an evaluation of evidence quality based on established standards. The results offer crucial insights into the potential advantages and constraints of TCM in HF management. AIM: To systematically analyze the effects of TCM on the clinical comprehensive outcomes, TCM syndrome scores, and BNP levels in patients with HF and evaluated the quality of evidence for these trials. METHODS: RCTs on TCM for HF treatment published since the establishment of the database were searched in four Chinese and English databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP Information Chinese Science and Technology Journal, and PubMed. Methodological quality was assessed for the included studies with the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool, and the meta-analysis and publication bias assessment was performed with the RevMan5.3 software. Finally, the quality of evidence was rated according to the GRADE criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1098 RCTs were initially retrieved. After screening, 16 RCTs were finally included in our study, which were published between 2020 and 2023. These RCTs involved 1660 HF patients, including 832 in the TCM group [TCM combined with conventional Western medicine (CMW) treatment] and 828 in the CWM group (CWM treatment). The course of treatments varied from 1 wk to 3 months. TCM syndrome differentiation was analyzed in 11 of the included RCTs. In all included RCTs, outcome indicators included comprehensive clinical outcomes, TCM syndrome scores, and BNP levels. The meta-analysis results showed significant differences between the TCM and CWM groups in terms of comprehensive clinical outcomes [risk ratio = -0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.61, -0.47; P < 0.00001], TCM syndrome scores [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -142.07; 95%CI = -147.56, -136.57; P < 0.00001], and BNP levels (WMD = -142.07; 95%CI = -147.56, -136.57; P < 0.00001). According to the GRADE criteria, RCTs where "TCM improves clinical comprehensive outcomes" were rated as low-quality evidence, and RCTs where "TCM reduces TCM syndrome scores" or "TCM decreases BNP levels" were rated as medium-quality evidence. CONCLUSION: TCM combined with CWM treatment effectively improves comprehensive clinical outcomes and diminishes TCM syndrome scores and BNP levels in HF patients. Given the low and medium quality of the included RCTs, the application of these results should be cautious.
RESUMO
Objective To summarize regularities in acupoint prescriptions for acupuncture treatment of stroke disorders by using data mining techniques to analyze 150 ancient acupuncture books from the Han dynasty to the end of Qing dynasty. Method A standard database and a ancient book database were established by a manual entry and proofreading method. The sentences containing stroke disorders, acupoints, meridians and needling moxibustion method in the ancient books were selected according to the key words in the standard database using a variety of data mining techniques and a regular relation to establish corresponding disease, acupoint, needling moxibustion method and meridian databases. They were classified into two types: prescriptions for stroke disorders and acupoint indications containing stroke disorders. The results from selection were reviewed manually and standardized. A multilevel analysis of regularities in acupuncture prescriptions for stroke disorders in the ancient books was performed by statistical analysis and apriori algorithm on association rules with support degree and confidence level. Result There were a total of 536 records on acupuncture point prescription for stroke disorders. Single acupoint prescriptions accounted for 34.89% of the total number of prescriptions. The single acupoint that was used most frequently was Baihui(GV20). Thedouble acupoints that were combined most frequently were Quchi(LI11) and Baihui. In three acupoint combination, Quchi and Fengshi(GB31) were separately combined most frequently with Baihui, Jianyu(LI15) and Xuanzhong(GB39). The three meridians that were used most frequently were the Du Meridian, the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming and the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang. The two meridians that were combined most frequently were the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang and the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming. Crossing points and Five-Shu points were selected most frequently in specific points. He-Sea points were used most frequently in Five-Shu points. Conclusion The prescriptions for stroke disorders in ancient acupuncture books focus on selecting the confluence of all yang meridians and yang meridian points. Specific points are the important composition of the prescriptions. Crossing points and He-Sea points are mainly used in specific points.