ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xueshuantong combined with conventional western medicine for angina pectoris in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. MethodsWe searched the Cochrane Library (2013.12), Medline (2013.10), EMbase (unlimited-2013.10), China Nation Knowledge Infrastructure (unlimited-2013.10) and the Wanfang Database (unlimitied-2013.10), Weipu Database (unlimited-2013.10), and CBM (unlimited-2013.10) on computers for parallel group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing Xueshuantong and placebo for patients with angina pectoris. Three researchers selected the trials based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and then extracted the data, assessed the quality of each trial independently. After cross checking, the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.1 software was used to perform Meta-analysis. ResultsThirteen RCTs and a total of 1 298 participants were involved. Meta-analysis showed that Xueshuantong combined with the conventional western medicine had better curative effect on angina pectoris for CHD than conventional therapy; stable angina pectoris [RR=1.24, 95%CI (1.12, 1.37), P<0.000 1]; unstable angina pectoris [RR=1.22, 95%CI (1.15, 1.29), P<0.000 01]. There was also significant difference in total curative effect between the two groups [RR=1.22, 95%CI (1.16, 1.29), P<0.000 01]. Xueshuantong also had better curative effect on improving performance of electrocardiogtram (ECG): stable angina pectoris [RR=1.30, 95%CI (1.11, 1.51), P=0.000 8]; unstable angina pectoris [RR=1.18, 95%CI (1.10, 1.28), P<0.000 1]. There was also significant difference in total curative effect on improving performance of ECG between the two groups [RR=1.21, 95%CI (1.13, 1.29), P<0.000 01]. But there was no significant difference in adverse effects rate between the two groups [RR=4.50, 95%CI (0.99, 20.53), P=0.05]. ConclusionCompared with conventional therapy, Xueshuantong combined with conventional western medicine has better curative effect with improved performance of ECG. The adverse effect rate between the two groups is not significantly different. But because of the small scale, inferior quality, and bias risk of these trials, large-scale, rational designed, multicenter RCTs are needed to confirm our conclusions.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and/or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) in the treatment of patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF). MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 11, 2014), CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM were electronically searched from inception to November 2014 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ACEI/ARB for DHF patients. References of included studies were also retrieved. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 22 RCTs involving 9 557 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that, compared with the control group, the ACEI/ARB group had significant improvements in exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance:SMD=0.02, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.38, P=0.01; Exercise time:MD=40.58, 95% CI 14.06 to 67.10, P=0.003) and diastolic function (E/A ratio:MD=0.20, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.31, P=0.000 4; E/E' ratio:MD=-1.69, 95% CI -2.11 to -1.27, P<0.000 01). In addition, compared with the control treatment, ACEI/ARB could significantly decrease the serum BNP level (SMD=-0.44, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.16, P=0.002) and NT-proBNP level (SMD=-0.68, 95% CI -1.24 to -0.12, P=0.02). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that ACEI/ARB can improve the exercise capacity and diastolic function, and reduce the levels of serum BNP and NT-proBNP in DHF patients. Due to the limited quality of the included studies and discrepancies in the diagnostic criteria of DHF, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.