OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Danqipiantan capsule(DPC) for the treatment of stroke. METHODS: PubMed, China Science And Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese periodicals in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University's Library were searched until July 2012. Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) and observational studies that reported the use of DPC for treatment of stroke were selected. RESULTS: Eleven articles that included 12 RCTs, and 2 articles that included 3 observational studies were identified. A total of 2590 patients participated in the studies. We found that there was a significant statistical difference between DPC treatment groups and the control groups in terms of the effective rate [risk ratio(RR), 1.14; 95% confidence intervals(CI), 1.04, 1.25; P=0.01], Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale [weighted mean difference(WMD), 9.77; 95% CI(4.84, 14.70); P=0.00], Barthel Index [WMD=6.40; 95% CI(3.15, 9.65)], and mean flow velocity [WMD= 5.79; 95% CI(1.64, 9.94)]. There were no significant differences for The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [WMD=0.60; 95% CI(﹣1.09, 2.29)], visual field defects [left visual field: WMD=﹣203.10; 95% CI(﹣424.41, 18.21); right visual field: WMD=﹣ 172.60; 95% CI(﹣409.29, 64.09)] or the functional independence measure [WMD=﹣7.90; 95% CI(﹣16.64, 0.84)]. Seven articles that included eight RCTs reported the safety of DPC treatment. Two articles that included three observational studies also reported beneficial effects for DPC. Because the Chinese studies were of poor methodological quality, and most of the sample sizes were small, our analysis was likely affected by bias. CONCLUSION: DPC has a beneficial effect and is relatively safe when used for the treatment of stroke.
Jiashen LiHaizhen ZhengXiaofeng ZhaoShu WangXuemin Shi
OBJECTIVE:To confirm the long-term outcomes of stroke patients and determine predicting factors for death,recurrence of vascular events and poor outcome(either recurrence or death) after the use of combined TCM therapy.METHODS:This was a retrospective hospital-based cohort study and was performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Tianjin.All subjects with stroke consecutively admitted to an inpatient ward of the Acupuncture Department from January 1,2008,to December 31,2008 were retrospectively followed through one year.The main outcomes were either a recurrence of vascular events,,mortality or both.Risk factors were recorded from medical records.Multivariate regression models were used to analyze predictors.The following independent variables were used:age,gender,hypertension,ischemic heart disease,atrial fibrillation,diabetes mellitus,carotid arterial lesions and history of stroke.RESULTS:Four-hundred and five patients were included.The 1-year mortality rate was 11.11%.23.70% of the patients had a recurrent vascular event,and 30.86% suffered a poor outcome.Multiple logistic regression analysis found that previous stroke,and advanced age were predictors of death within one year,Recurrence of vascular events was associated with carotid arterial lesions,history of diabetes and previous stroke.Long-term poor outcome was predicted by advanced age,history of diabetes,and previous stroke.CONCLUSION:Age,previous stroke,carotid arterial lesions and diabetes history seem to have different impacts on the three outcomes within one year.Our findings provide important data for planning future hospital register studies of stroke patients in TCM hospitals.
