TABLE 3.
The pooled results of secondary outcomes of CHM used with or without conventional western therapy for COVID-19.
| Comparisons and outcomes | Design of the included study | Number of study | Number of participant | The pooled results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese herbal medicine + conventional western therapy vs. conventional western therapy | ||||
| ●The recovery rate of fever | RCT | 3 | 207 | RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.54, I 2 = 64% |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 3 | 163 | RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.58 | |
| ●The recovery rate of cough | RCT | 3 | 231 | RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.62 |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 3 | 156 | RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.71 | |
| ●The recovery rate of fatigue | RCT | 2 | 108 | RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.71 |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 3 | 126 | RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.93 | |
| ●The duration of fever | RCT | 2 | 95 | MD -2.08 days, 95% CI -2.90 to -1.26, I 2 = 60% |
| Non-RCT | 1 | 200 | MD -0.83 days, 95% CI -1.22 to -0.44 | |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 6 | 322 | MD -1.54 days, 95% CI -1.82 to -1.26 | |
| ●The duration of cough | RCT | 2 | 95 | MD -2.34 days, 95% CI -3.32 to -1.37, I 2 = 56% |
| Non-RCT | 1 | 200 | MD 0.28 days, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.96 | |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 4 | 214 | MD -1.68 days, 95% CI -1.92 to -1.43 | |
| ●The duration of fatigue | RCT | 1 | 45 | MD -2.35 days, 95% CI -2.91 to -1.79 |
| Non-RCT | 1 | 200 | MD -0.33 days, 95% CI -0.78 to 0.12 | |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 3 | 136 | MD -1.75 days, 95% CI -2.01 to -1.49 | |
| ●Negative conversion rate of nucleic acid test | Retrospective study with a control group | 3 | 163 | RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.66 |
| ●The improvement rate of chest CT manifestations | RCT | 6 | 607 | RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.49 |
| Non-RCT | 1 | 200 | RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.40 | |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 7 | 484 | RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.45, I 2 = 60% | |
| ●The recovery rate of chest CT manifestations | RCT | 2 | 355 | RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.02 |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 3 | 251 | RR 1.50, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.31 | |
| ●The time from receiving treatment to the beginning of chest CT manifestations improvement | Retrospective study with a control group | 2 | 140 | MD -2.23 days, 95% CI -2.46 to -2.00 |
| ●Length of hospitalization | Retrospective study with a control group | 4 | 290 | MD -0.42 days, 95% CI -3.49 to 2.64, I 2 = 95% |
| ●Adverse events | RCT | 3 | 270 | RR 2.06, 95% CI 0.34 to 12.38 |
| Non-RCT | 1 | 200 | RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.21 to 4.84 | |
| Retrospective study with a control group | 4 | 276 | RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.26 to 2.93 | |
| Chinese herbal medicine vs. conventional western therapy | None | |||
Note: RR, risk ratio; MD, mean difference; CI, confidence interval; RCT, randomized controlled trial; Non-RCT, non-randomized controlled trial.