Volume 1,Issue 2
Effectiveness of Invegorating Qi and Activating Blood Treatment on Carotid Atherosclerosis: A Meta-analysis
Background: Carotid arteriosclerosis-associated symptoms are common, but treatment is not specifically targeted to relieve clinical symptoms. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, Qi deficiency and blood stasis constitute the main pathogenesis of carotid atherosclerosis, and invigorating Qi and activating blood (IQAB) is one of the most commonly used treatments. However, the effectiveness of the IQAB has not been fully studied. Objective: This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the IQAB in the treatment of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). Methods: Four databases, including CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, and PubMed, were searched electronically from database establishment to November 2023 to select studies on the intervention of CAS with herbs related to supplementing qi and promoting blood circulation. The languages were restricted to Chinese and English. The study performed bias risk assessment via the Cochrane Collaborative bias risk assessment tool and used ReviewManager 5.4 for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 27 randomized controlled trials of IQAB in the treatment of CAS were included, with a sample size of 2803 cases. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that, compared with conventional Western medicine, IQAB can reduce IMT (SMD = -0.94, 95% CI[-1.18,0.70], Z = 7.71, P < 0.00001), reduced plaque integral (SMD = -1.02, 95% CI[-1.46, -0.57], Z = 4.50, P < 0.00001), decreased plaque area (SMD = -1.01, 95% CI[-1.29, -0.73], Z = 7.03, P < 0.00001) and reduced the TCM symptom score (SMD = -1.67, 95% CI[-2.41, -0.94], Z = 4.48, P < 0.00001). Conclusion: IQAB can effectively reduce the IMT, plaque score, and plaque area and improve the TCM symptom score.
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