Shensongyangxin Capsules for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Shensongyangxin Capsules (SSYX) for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). METHODS: We searched for randomized clinical trials for SSYX in PAF up to June 2015. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality. RevMan 5.3 was used to synthesize the results. RESULTS: We included 22 trials involving 2,347 PAF patients. The quality of the included studies was generally poor. The results of the meta-analysis showed that SSYX plus routine treatment was more effective at improving P-wave dispersion (Pwd) and the frequency of PAF attacks compared with routine treatment alone. The results from the included trials that compared SSYX plus routine treatment and arrhythmic drugs plus routine treatment were inconsistent. Trials reported on Pwd, quality of life, frequency of PAF attacks or maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and found that SSYX combined with anti-arrhythmic drugs plus routine treatment was more effective than anti-arrhythmic drugs plus routine treatment. Four of the trials reported adverse events, indicating that SSYX was potentially safer than anti-arrhythmic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be some benefit from the use of SSYX. However, due to poor methodological quality, we could not draw confirmative conclusions regarding the beneficial effect of using SSYX.