This study systematically evaluated the efficacy and safety of different Chinese patent medicines combined with conventional western medicine in the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF) and ranked for the drug selection. Randomized controlled trial(RCT) on Chinese patent medicines in treatment of HFpEF were obtained from the CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, and other databases from the inception to October 9, 2022. The included RCT was quantitatively analyzed using gemtc and rjags packages of R software for the network Meta-analysis. 74 RCTs were included, with a total of 7 192 patients enrolled, involving 11 different Chinese patent medicines(Shenfu Injection, Shenmai Injection, Qili Qiangxin Capsules, Shexiang Baoxin Pills, Xuezhikang Capsules, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Polyphenols Injection, Tanshinone Ⅱ_A Sulfonate Injection, Xinmailong Injection, Yangxinshi Tablets, Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills, and Yixinshu Capsules). The results of network Meta-analysis are shown as followed.(1)In terms of improving clinical effective rate, for injection preparations, Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine was recommended. while for oral preparations, Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine were preferred.(2)In terms of improving the mitral ratio of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity(E/A), for injection preparations, Shenmai Injection + Salvia Miltiorrhiza Polyphenols Injection + conventional western medicine, Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine, Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine were preferred. While for oral preparations, Yixinshu Capsules + conventional western medicine was preferred.(3)In terms of reducing the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow to early diastolic mitral annular velocity(E/e'), Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine could be used as injection preparation, and Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine for oral preparations.(4)In terms of improving 6-minute walking trail(6MWT), the injection preparations such as Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine, Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine were suitable, while oral preparations like Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine, Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine were recommended.(5)In terms of reducing N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine were preferred.(6)In terms of reducing B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP), Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine could be used for injection preparation and Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine can be used for oral preparation. In terms of adverse drug reactions, there was no significant difference between Chinese patent medicine combined with conventional western conventional and traditional western medicine alone. The results showe that Chinese patent medicine combined with conventional western medicine in treating HFpEF is superior to conventional western medicine alone in reducing clinical symptoms, improving cardiac function, and improving exercise tolerance, which also has good drug safety. However, the existing evidence is still limited by the quality and quantity of included studies, so the above conclusion requires further validation through more prospective RCT.
Keywords: Chinese patent medicine; heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; network Meta-analysis.