Chen Y, Guo JJ, Healy DP, Zhan S. Effect of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine on the
treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome: A meta-analysis. Pharmacy Practice 2007;5(1):1-9.
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ABSTRACT*
Background: Data regarding the treatment efficacy
of integrative treatment of Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine (WM) in
treating patients with (SARS) are conflicting. The
effects of integrative TCM/WM treatment have not
been fully quantified.
Objectives: To systematically asses the treatment
effects of integrated TCM with WM versus WM
alone in patients with SARS, incorporating data
from recently published studies.
Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted, using
published randomized and nonrandomized
controlled clinical studies that compared the
treatment effects of integrative TCM/WM with WM
alone from 2002 to 2006.The outcome
measurements included mortality rate, cure rate,
resolution of pulmonary infiltrate, use of
corticosteroid, and time to defervescence. The
effect sizes were presented as risk ratio (RR), rate
difference (RD), and weighted mean difference
(WMD).The pooled effect sizes were calculated by
both fixed-effects and random-effects models.
Results: A total of 1,678 patients with a diagnosis of
SARS were identified, including 866 patients from
16 randomized controlled studies and 812 patients
from 8 nonrandomized controlled studies. There
were no differences detected in mortality rate or
cure rate between treatments. Compared with
patients receiving WM treatment alone, patients
receiving integrative treatment were more likely to
have complete or partial resolution of pulmonary
infiltrate (RD=0.18, 95%CI; 0.07 to 0.30), lower
average daily dosage (mg) of corticosteroid
(WMD=-60.27, 95% CI; -70.58 to -49.96), higher
CD4+ counts (cells/uL) (WMD=167.96, 95% CI;
109.68 to 226.24), and shorter time to
*Yan CHEN. MPH, Division of Pharmacy Practice and
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