Objective To assess the quality of randomised controlled trials on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for coronary heart disease (CHD) angina published from 1977 to 2002. Method We did electronic search in Medline, Embase and hand searched 83 journals of traditional Chinese medicine (the earliest published in 1977 and the latest in June 2002). We assessed the quality of obstained studies. Results Four hundred and forty articles met the criteria,of which 33 (7.5%) described randomization. None of them mentioned allocation concealment; 94.77% (417 studies) mentioned diagnosis criteria; only one mentioned the calculation basement of sample size; 84.09% (370 studies) mentioned comparability of baseline. Fifty three studies (12.05%) noted double-blind; 28 studies used single blind. Twenty-five studies used double-blind. Drop-outs were described in 7 cases without intention-to-treat (ITT); 159 studies applied statistical methods properly, while 4 did not. Ten studies never mentioned statistical methods; 73.18％ (322 studies) used forms to express their results. Conclusions Till now, the quantity and quality of RCTs of traditional Chinese medicine for coronary heart disease angina were inadequate. Some well designed scientific methods were not adequately applied.
Objective To evaluate the association between coronary heart disease (CHD) and plasma homocysteine level, and to provide additional information for prevention and management of CHD. Methods We searched CBM, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases. Case-control studies about the association between CHD and plasma homocysteine level published in China were identified. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 4.2 software. Results The result of meta-analysis showed the plasma homocysteine level in the CHD group was higher than that of the control group (WMD=4.88, 95%CI 4.40 to 5.35, Plt;0.000 01), and the loss of safety coefficient was 1 339. Conclusion High plasma homocysteine level is associated with increasing morbidity of CHD.
ObjectiveTo explore the association between free fatty acid (FFA) and extent of severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
MethodsWe analyzed the clinical data of 93 ACS in-patients treated between July 2014 and May 2015, including 35 with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 34 with acute non STEMI (NSTEMI), and 24 with unstable angina (UA). Another 29 in-patients during the same period without coronary heart disease and heart failure and with normal results of electrocardiogram and myocardial damage markers were selected as the control. The statistical analysis of FFA collected within 24 hours after admission was conducted.
ResultsThe FFA in the ACS group[(1.08±0.41) mmol/L] was significantly higher than that in control group[(0.51±0.15) mmol/L] (P < 0.01). The FFA in patients with STEMI, NSTEMI, and UA in ACS group was (1.32±0.38), (1.12±0.35, and (0.67±0.10) mmol/L, respectively; the FFA in STEMI and NSTEMI patients was much higher than that in the UA patients (P < 0.05), and the difference between STEMI and NSTEMI patients was not significant (P > 0.05). There were 58 NSTEMI and UA patients evaluated by Grace risk score, in whom 30 had Grace score≥140 with the FFA of (1.12±0.37) mmol/L and 28 had < 140 with the FFA of (0.73±0.17) mmol/L; the difference was significant (P < 0.05). There were 35 STEMI patients evaluated by Killip grade, in whom 16 were Killip I-II with the FFA of (1.17±0.37) mmol/L, and 19 were Killip III-IV with the FFA of (1.45±0.35) mmol/L; the difference was significant (P < 0.05).
ConclusionElevated plasma FFA could be associated with ischemic risk and extent of severity of ACS.
Objective To investigate the characteristics of blood pressure and coronary artery impairment in patients with essential hypertension (EH) combining coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods A total of 358 patients with EH combining CHD and other 144 patients with CHD were measured with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and the parameters of ambulatory blood pressure were analyzed. All the patients underwent coronary angiography. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was evaluated in accordance with the number of impaired arteries. Results Compared to the patients with simplex CHD, those with EH combining CHD had much heavier artery stenosis and more diffuse lesions, with significant differences (χ2=6.03, P=0.019). The 24h systolic blood pressure (SBP), day SBP, night SBP, 24h pulse pressure (PP), day PP and night PP were higher in the patients with EH combining CHD compared to those of the patients with simplex CHD (The t values were 2.580, 2.045, 2.675, 2.037, 2.601, and 1.995, respectively, while the P values were 0.015, 0.037, 0.009, 0.041, 0.017, and 0.047, respectively). Conclusion Compared to the patients with simplex CHD, the patients with EH combining CHD suffer from much severe coronary artery impairment, so a good controlling of blood pressure is advisable to improve the coronary artery impairment for the patients with EH combining CHD.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of coronary artery bypass grafting in the treatment of coronary artery disease patients aged over 70 years. Methods A total of 160 patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting from January 2013 to December 2017. There were 94 males and 66 females at age of 70–85 (76.67±2.33) years. Operations were performed by using sternal median incision with the assistance of local myocardial surface fixator and shunt plug, and the saphenous vein and internal mammary arterywere used as grafted vessels. Results All the patients were received successful off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting without death, and the cardiac function improved significantly. There were 62 patients with the internal mammary artery bridge and 98 patients with the whole vein bridge. All the patients were followed-up for 1 to 4 years. All the patients had obvious relief of angina pectoris. Conclusion Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for the treatment of elderly patients with coronary heart disease is an effective and safe operation, especially for patients with renal insufficiency, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction.
Objective To investigate the current situation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on compound salvia pellet (CSP) for angina pectoris and assess whether there is adequate evidence for clinical practice. Methods We collected all the published clinical studies on CSP for angina pectoris from 1994 to December 2005, and assessed each included report using the Jadad scale, the revised CONSORT statement and other self-edited items. Results We finally identified 115 RCTs. Among which, 1 scored 3 points, 6 scored 2 points, 106 scored 1 points and 2 socred 0 points. No RCT performed allocation concealment according to the CONSORT criteria, only 4 RCTs (3.5%) described the generation of the randomization sequence, among which 2 were quasi-randomized. No RCT provided randomization implementation,1 RCT (0.9%) carried out placebo control, 1 RCT (0.9%) reported endpoint, 9 RCTs (7.8%) adopted single blinding, 4 RCTs (3.5%) reported double blinding, 11 RCTs (9.6%) calculated statistical values, 2 RCTs (1.7%) provided the record of follow-up, 1 RCT (0.9%) reported negative outcome, 25 RCTs (21.8%) described adverse events, no RCT described how the sample size was estimated, and how an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis and correlation analysis were reported, 1 RCT (0.9%) was multi-center, no RCT completed ethical approval and informed consent, 27 RCTs (23.5%) described syndrome type of TCM. Conclusion Currently, the methodology and reporting of studies on CSP for angina pectoris are not good enough to provide reliable evidence for clinical practice.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of simvastatin 40 mg daily use in treatment of coronary heart disease. Methods The study was designed as before-after study in the same patients. One hundred and sixty seven patients with coronary heart disease were prescribed simvastatin 40 mg daily for 3 and 6 months. Total cholestero (TC), low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerldes (TG), ALT and creatine kinase (CK) in serum before therapy and at the end of 3 months and 6 months treatment were dectected. Continuous data were analyzed by standard difference of blocked randomization and described by mean±SD. Dunnet-t test was used for multiple comparison of trial and control groups. Statistical difference was set up at P＜0.05. Success rate was assessed by chi square test at the end of 3 and 6 months treatment. Results Simvastatin 40 mg/d significantly decreased the level of TC (P＜0.000 5), LDL-C (P＜0.000 5), TG (P＜0.05), and could elevate HDL-C (P＜0.05). There were 39.5% of patients whose LDL-C reduced below 70 mg/dl. One patient whose CK raised 5.6 times of upper line of normal range and 4 patients whose ALT raised more than 2 times of upper line of normal range withdrew. The reliability of simvastatin 40 mg/d was relatively good. Conclusions Simvastatin 40 mg/d could significantly improve the lipid profile, and is relatively reliable in treatment of coronary heart disease.
Objectives
To assess the relationship between subclinical hyperthyroidism and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).
Methods
PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data and CBM databases were searched for studies on the relationship between subclinical hyperthyroidism and the incidence of CHD from inception to October 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software.
Results
In total, 14 cohort studies were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that subclinical hyperthyroidism was associated with the incidence of coronary heart disease (RR=1.19, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.40, P=0.04) and all-cause mortality (RR=1.36, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.67, P=0.003).
Conclusions
Subclinical hyperthyroidism is associated with an increased risk of CHD and all-cause mortality. Due to the limitation of quality and quantity of the studies, the above conclusions are required to be verified by large-scale and high quality research.
Objective To investigate the current situation of clinical studies on puerarin for angina pectoris and assess whether it is adequate to provide evidence for clinical practiice. Methods We collected all the published clinical studies on puerarin for angina pectoris from 1966 to October 2003, and assessed all the included reports according to international clinical epidemiological standard. Results 106 RCTs, 8 non-randomized controlled studies and 24 case series were included and analyzed. 126 studies reported diagnosis criteria, 10 desccribed inclusion criteria; 3 studies were quasi-random, 1 double blind, 4 single blind; no study reported follow-up; 117 studies reported adverse effects. Conclusions Currently the quality of studies on puerarin for angina pectoris is not good enough to provide reliable evidence for clinical practice.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of tongxinluo capsule for coronary heart disease. Methods Both the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of tongxinluo capsule for coronary heart disease were collected through searching on computer from the following databases, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2010), PubMed (2000 to April 2010), WanFang Data (1996 to April 2010), CNKI (1994 to April 2010) and VIP (1989 to April 2010). The trials selection based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction, cross check and quality assessment were conducted by two reviewers independently, and meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 13 studies involving 1 496 participants were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that: compared with the nitrate esters group, the tongxinluo capsule group had a better curative effect on the coronary heart disease than isosorbide dinitrate (RR=0.50, 95%CI 0.36 to 0.70) and isosorbide mononitrate (RR=0.19, 95%CI 0.12 to 0.30); there was significant difference in the total curative effect between the two groups (RR=0.34, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.44, Plt;0.000 01); the tongxinluo capsule was also better in improving the ECG than isosorbide dinitrate (RR=0.55, 95%CI 0.46 to 0.66) and isosorbide mononitrate (RR=0.58, 95%CI 0.48 to 0.70); there was significant difference in the total ECG improvement between the two groups (RR=0.56, 95%CI 0.49 to 0.64, Plt;0.000 01); the tongxinluo capsule group had a lower incidence rate of adverse reaction than the nitrate esters group with a significant difference (RR=0.33, 95%CI 0.20 to 0.53, Plt;0.000 01). Conclusion The present evidence indicates that tongxinluo capsule is not inferior to isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate in improving the curative effect and ECG, and it has fewer adverse reactions. More well-designed and large scale multi-centered RCTs are required with longer follow-up time to confirm this conclusion.
