Table 2.
Primary results based on various outcomes and subgroup analyses.
| Meta-analyses variables | No. of studies | No. of patients | Pool effect size | I 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCM | CG | ||||
| Numerical variable | Pooled ORs (95% CI) | ||||
| Clinical efficacy | 47 | 3231 | 2206 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| YGTSS motor tic scores | 9 | 396 | 356 | 1.26 (1.00 to 1.58) | 0.00% |
| YGTSS vocal tic scores | 9 | 396 | 356 | 1.17 (0.92 to 1.49) | 0.00% |
| Recurrence rate | 6 | 241 | 200 | 0.44 (0.24 to 0.78) | 0.00% |
| TCMSSS | 14 | 1265 | 807 | 1.20 (1.04 to 1.37) | 0.00% |
| Adverse reaction | 29 | 2504 | 1496 | 0.32 (0.24 to 0.43) | 32.90% |
| Continuous variable | Pooled SMDs (95% CI) | ||||
| YGTSS total scores | 26 | 2401 | 1441 | -0.21 (-0.29 to -0.14) | 12.30% |
| YGTSS motor tic scores | 7 | 670 | 415 | -0.37 (-0.55 to -0.19) | 41.50% |
| YGTSS vocal tic scores | 7 | 670 | 415 | -0.23 (-0.35 to -0.10) | 0.00% |
| TCMSSS | 6 | 194 | 195 | -0.69 (-1.17 to -0.21) | 80.50% |
| Subgroup analysis based on the outcome of YGTSS | Pooled SMDs (95% CI) | ||||
| Disease course | |||||
| Overall | 33 | 1653 | 1308 | 1.14 (1.02 to 1.28) | 0.00% |
| Average course≤3Ys | 24 | 1198 | 936 | 1.14 (0.99 to 1.30) | 0.00% |
| Average course>3Ys | 9 | 455 | 372 | 1.15 (0.93 to 1.42) | 0.00% |
| Condition of disease | |||||
| Overall | 9 | 299 | 268 | 1.08 (0.84 to 1.38) | 0.00% |
| Mild | 3 | 121 | 90 | 1.06 (0.71 to 1.61) | 0.00% |
| Moderate-severe | 6 | 178 | 178 | 1.09 (0.80 to 1.48) | 0.00% |
| Publication year | |||||
| Overall | 47 | 3231 | 2206 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| ≤2010 | 18 | 1128 | 817 | 1.10 (0.96 to 1.27) | 0.00% |
| >2010 | 29 | 2103 | 1389 | 1.18 (1.06 to 1.32) | 0.00% |
| Therapeutic course | |||||
| Overall | 47 | 3231 | 2206 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| ≤12Ws | 24 | 2206 | 1268 | 1.18 (1.05 to 1.32) | 0.00% |
| >12Ws | 23 | 1025 | 938 | 1.12 (0.96 to 1.28) | 0.00% |
| Diagnostic standards | |||||
| Overall | 47 | 3231 | 2206 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| CCMD | 11 | 1100 | 623 | 1.18 (1.00 to 1.39) | 4.30% |
| DSM | 29 | 1849 | 1302 | 1.15 (1.09 to 1.29) | 0.00% |
| Other | 7 | 282 | 281 | 1.10 (0.85 to 1.41) | 0.00% |
| Total sample size | |||||
| Overall | 47 | 3231 | 2206 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| ≤100 | 32 | 1104 | 1045 | 1.11 (0.98 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| >100 | 15 | 2127 | 1161 | 1.19 (1.05 to 1.34) | 6.30% |
| Region | |||||
| Overall | 47 | 3231 | 2206 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| High income | 26 | 2078 | 1053 | 1.11 (0.97 to 1.27) | 0.00% |
| Low and middle income | 21 | 1153 | 1153 | 1.18 (1.06 to 1.32) | 0.00% |
| ROB quality | |||||
| Overall | 47 | 3231 | 2206 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| High | 7 | 989 | 945 | 1.15 (1.06 to 1.26) | 0.00% |
| Low/unclear | 40 | 2242 | 1261 | 1.16 (1.06 to 1.28) | 0.00% |
CI: confidence interval; CCMD: Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders; CG: control group; DSM: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual; OR: odds ratio; ROB: risk of bias; SMD: standard mean differences; TCM: traditional Chinese medicine; TCMSSS: TCM Syndrome Score Scale; YGTSS: Yale Global Tic Severity Scale.