Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTs

Introduction: This systemic review examines the effectiveness and safety of combining traditional Chinese medicine with standard therapy in the treatment of mild to moderate cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methodology: We retrieved articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Emb...

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Main Authors: Wen Cao, Nannan He, Yannian Luo, Zhiming Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19398
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author Wen Cao
Nannan He
Yannian Luo
Zhiming Zhang
author_facet Wen Cao
Nannan He
Yannian Luo
Zhiming Zhang
author_sort Wen Cao
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: This systemic review examines the effectiveness and safety of combining traditional Chinese medicine with standard therapy in the treatment of mild to moderate cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methodology: We retrieved articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Weipi (VIP), and China Biology Medicine disc (CBM). The deadline for retrieval was 20 August 2022, and it was updated on 1 July 2023. Two researchers worked independently on literature screening, data extraction, and evaluation of the quality of the literature. Results: A total of 21 randomized controlled trials were included in this review; consisting of 9 articles in English and 12 articles in Chinese. According to the fixed-effects model, the results of the traditional meta-analysis indicated a significantly superior efficacy of oral traditional Chinese medicine combined with standard therapy in treating mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, compared to standard treatment (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.59–2.06), with no increased adverse effects (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.95–1.73). The network meta-analysis results revealed Lianhua Qingke, Toujie Quwen, and Jinhua Qinggan granules as the three best Chinese medicines with the most effective treatment outcomes; while Lianhua Qingwen capsule/granules, Reyanning, and Shufeng Jiedu capsules were the top three Chinese medicines with the fewest side effects. Conclusions: The efficacy of oral traditional Chinese medicine combined with standard therapy in treating mild to moderate COVID-19 was significantly superior to standard therapy alone. However, the limited quality of evidence reduces the reliability of the meta-analysis.
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spelling doaj-art-d38d0ee0529e40ad97b758f00eb0153c2025-08-20T03:52:39ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802024-11-01181110.3855/jidc.19398Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTsWen Cao0Nannan He1Yannian Luo2Zhiming Zhang3Department of Critical Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, ChinaDepartment of Critical Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, ChinaDepartment of Critical Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730030, China Introduction: This systemic review examines the effectiveness and safety of combining traditional Chinese medicine with standard therapy in the treatment of mild to moderate cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methodology: We retrieved articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Weipi (VIP), and China Biology Medicine disc (CBM). The deadline for retrieval was 20 August 2022, and it was updated on 1 July 2023. Two researchers worked independently on literature screening, data extraction, and evaluation of the quality of the literature. Results: A total of 21 randomized controlled trials were included in this review; consisting of 9 articles in English and 12 articles in Chinese. According to the fixed-effects model, the results of the traditional meta-analysis indicated a significantly superior efficacy of oral traditional Chinese medicine combined with standard therapy in treating mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, compared to standard treatment (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.59–2.06), with no increased adverse effects (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.95–1.73). The network meta-analysis results revealed Lianhua Qingke, Toujie Quwen, and Jinhua Qinggan granules as the three best Chinese medicines with the most effective treatment outcomes; while Lianhua Qingwen capsule/granules, Reyanning, and Shufeng Jiedu capsules were the top three Chinese medicines with the fewest side effects. Conclusions: The efficacy of oral traditional Chinese medicine combined with standard therapy in treating mild to moderate COVID-19 was significantly superior to standard therapy alone. However, the limited quality of evidence reduces the reliability of the meta-analysis. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19398COVID-19medicinetreatmentmeta-analysisherbs
spellingShingle Wen Cao
Nannan He
Yannian Luo
Zhiming Zhang
Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTs
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
COVID-19
medicine
treatment
meta-analysis
herbs
title Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTs
title_full Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTs
title_fullStr Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTs
title_full_unstemmed Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTs
title_short Oral traditional Chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: a network meta-analysis based on RCTs
title_sort oral traditional chinese medicine for mild to moderate cases of covid 19 a network meta analysis based on rcts
topic COVID-19
medicine
treatment
meta-analysis
herbs
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19398
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