Combination therapy using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Conventional Western Medicine (CWM) proves more effective for treating renal hypertension than CWM alone.
In this research, the team conducted a comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning TCM treatment for renal hypertension across nine databases, with the selected studies spanning up to July 2023. A series of risk assessment tools, including the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, were implemented to rank the credibility of the included trials, after which a network meta-analysis was executed using specialized software. To ensure the robustness of the results and explain any heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses and meta-regression were also carried out.
This meta-analytical study explored 44 relevant investigations including 3879 patients undergoing 29 different TCM interventions. The research was meticulous, with quality ranging from moderate to excellent, clearly outlined inclusion criteria, and a low potential for biases with regards to outcome data and selective reporting. The combination of Tianma Gouteng Yin and Qiju Dihuang Wan with conventional Western medicine displayed the highest overall effectiveness, while Bailing capsule added to conventional treatment best improved serum creatinine levels. While different TCM treatments excelled in different areas, all TCM-CWM combinations had a lower incidence of adverse effects compared to Western medicine alone.
