Clinical trial evaluates effects of combining Western medication with Traditional Chinese Medicine preparations in patients with chronic heart failure

A study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine has found that adding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to Western medication may improve the quality of life of people with chronic heart failure.

• Researchers gathered 340 patients for the multicenter clinical trial. The participants’ age ranged from 40 to 79 years, and all reported having chronic heart failure.
• Subjects were inpatients from 10 hospitals who were enrolled and randomly allocated within 24 hours of admission.
• The researchers conducted three intervention periods – during hospitalization, after discharge, and six months after release.
• During hospitalization, the researchers administered Western medication for chronic heart failure to the control group, while they gave Danhong injection with Shenfu injection or Shenmai injection to the treatment group.
• After discharge, all subjects received treatment of Qiliqiangxin capsules and Buyiqiangxin tablets or a placebo for six months.
• After the six-month treatment, both groups received only continuous Western medication.
• The researchers evaluated the efficacy of the trial using B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), Lee’s HF score, the six-minute walking test (6MWT), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ).
• They also conducted safety assessments which included blood and urine routine tests, hepatic and renal function, electrolytes in the blood, and adverse events.
• Results showed that the treatment group had a 30.99 percent reduction in mortality rate, an improved survival rate, and more considerable improvement in walking than the control group.

The findings of the study indicate that traditional Chinese medicine added to Western medication can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life for heart failure patients.

For the full text of the study, go to this link.

Journal Reference:

Xianliang W, Yazhu H, Jingyuan M, Yingqiang Z, Tianfu N, Ruyu Y, Yonggang W, Jinrong C, Le S, Xiuli J, et al. WESTERN MEDICATION PLUS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PREPARATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE: A PROSPECTIVE, SINGLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED, AND MULTICENTER CLINICAL TRIAL. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2017;37(6):756–766. DOI: 10.1016/S0254-6272(18)30038-4