Huangqi injection in the treatment of chronic heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Huangqi injection (HI) in treating chronic heart failure (CHF) systematically. METHODS: A literature search was conducted for retrieving randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CHF treated by HI in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Database up to June, 6, 2017, and then the included RCTs were assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. The clinical total effective rate, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and others outcomes were analyzed by Review Manager 5.3 in random-effect model, the funnel plot were depicted as well. Meanwhile, the sensitivity analysis was carried out by STATA 12.0. RESULTS: Sixteen RCTs involved 1864 patients were included. The result of HI group was more efficient in the clinical total effective rate (RR = 1.19, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) [1.14–1.26], P < .00001). In addition, HI plus western medicine (WM) could improve LVEF (MD = 4.64, 95% CI [3.52–5.75], P < .00001), and others cardiac indexes. Meanwhile, a combination of HI and WM also can perfect 6 minutes walk test (6MWT). Three RCTs reported no serious adverse drug events/adverse drug reactions occurred. CONCLUSION: Compared with WM, a combination of HI and WM was more efficacious in improving the clinical total effective rate, and perfect patients’ condition, but more evidence-based medicine researches needed to support this study further.