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 defervescence (days) (WMD= -1.06, 95%CI;-1.60
to -0.53).
Conclusions: The experience of integrative TCM/WM in the treatment
of SARS is encouraging. The use of TCM as an adjunctive therapy
in the treatment of SARS should be further investigated..
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