Figure 1.
Flowchart of the search and study selection process.
Table 1.
Assessment of risk of bias for 19 studies based on the Cochrane Handbook.
Figure 2.
BODE Index mean and SD scores at baseline and end of treatment for 9 studies of CHM plus RP for stable COPD (showing type of intervention).
Legend: SD: standard deviation, CHM: Chinese Herbal Medicine, RP: routine pharmacotherapy, mths: months, Gps: groups, Ipra.: ipratropium (inhaled), Theo.(+p.r.): oral theophylline (plus pulmonary rehabilitation), RP (guidelines): routine pharmacotherapy (adjusted for severity according to guidelines), Theo.: theophylline (oral), Salm./Flu.: salmeterol/fluticasone (inhaled), RP(+p.r.): routine pharmacotherapy (pharmacotherapy plus pulmonary rehabilitation), Salb.: salbutamol (inhaled).
Figure 3.
Mean 6MWT/D (meters) with SDs at baseline and end of treatment for 17 studies of CHM plus RP for stable COPD (showing type of intervention).
Legend: SD: standard deviation, CHM: Chinese Herbal Medicine, RP: routine pharmacotherapy, mths: months, Gps: groups, Salb./Ipra.: salbutamol/ipratropium (inhaled), exe.: pulmonary exercise, Ipra.: ipratropium (inhaled), oxy.: oxygen therapy, RP(+p.r.): routine pharmacotherapy (pharmacotherapy plus pulmonary rehabilitation), RP (guidelines): routine pharmacotherapy (adjusted for severity according to guidelines), Theo.(+p.r.): oral theophylline (plus pulmonary rehabilitation), Salm./Flu.: salmeterol/fluticasone (inhaled), Ami./Bro./Chlo.: compound oral medication which contained aminophylline, bromhexine and chlorphenamine, Theo.: theophylline (oral), Muc.: Mucosolvan (oral), LABAs: long-acting β2 agonists (inhaled), Salb.: salbutamol (inhaled).
Figure 4.
Forest plot comparing CHM plus RP group (Test) to RP group (Control) in terms of BODE Index scores in stable COPD at end of treatment.
Legend: CHM: Chinese Herbal Medicine, RP: routine pharmacotherapy, SD: standard deviation, CI: confidence interval, Ipra.: ipratropium (inhaled), Salb.: salbutamol (inhaled), Theo.: theophylline (oral), Theo.(+p.r.): oral theophylline (plus pulmonary rehabilitation), Salm./Flu.: salmeterol/fluticasone (inhaled), RP (guidelines): routine pharmacotherapy (adjusted for severity according to guidelines), RP(+p.r.): routine pharmacotherapy (pharmacotherapy plus pulmonary rehabilitation).
Table 2.
Meta-analysis of BODE Index at end of treatment and sensitivity analysis.
Figure 5.
Forest plot comparing CHM plus RP group (Test) to RP group (Control) in terms of 6MWT/D (meters) in stable COPD at end of treatment.
Legend: CHM: Chinese Herbal Medicine, RP: routine pharmacotherapy, SD: standard deviation, CI: confidence interval, Salm./Flu.: salmeterol/fluticasone (inhaled), Theo.(+p.r.): oral theophylline (plus pulmonary rehabilitation), Muc.: Mucosolvan (oral), LABAs: long-acting β2 agonists (inhaled), Ami./Bro./Chlo.: compound oral medication which contained aminophylline, bromhexine and chlorphenamine, Ipra.: ipratropium (inhaled), oxy.: oxygen therapy, Salb./Ipra.: salbutamol/ipratropium (inhaled), exe.: pulmonary exercise, RP (guidelines): routine pharmacotherapy (adjusted for severity according to guidelines), RP(+p.r.): routine pharmacotherapy (pharmacotherapy plus pulmonary rehabilitation).
Table 3.
Meta-analysis of 6MWT/D (meters) at end of treatment and sensitivity analysis.