TABLE 6.
Summary of evidence.
| Outcomes | Study ID | Synthesis of results | Total patient number in the treatment or control group | Number of studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHM vs. WM (including phototherapy) | ||||
| Total effective rate | Fang, 2016 | OR = 3.00, 95% CI (2.33, 3.86), I2 = 23%, p < 0.00001 | 1,279/898 | 16 |
| Yang, 2020 | OR = 3.33, 95% CI (1.98, 5.66), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 288/286 | 8 | |
| Zhang, 2018 | OR = 1.94, 95% CI (1.34, 2.80), I2 = 40%, p < 0.0001 | 745/676 | 13 | |
| Cure rate | Yang, 2020 | OR = 2.85, 95% CI (1.90, 4.29), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 288/286 | 8 |
| PASI 60 | Zhang, 2016 | RR = 0.99, 95% CI (0.95, 1.04), I2 = 0%, p > 0.05 | 829/667 | 13 |
| PASI 90 | Zhang, 2016 | RR = 1.00, 95% CI (0.86, 1.16), I2 = 0%, p > 0.05 | 795/634 | 12 |
| PASI score | Fang, 2016 | MD = −1.43, 95% CI (−2.56, −0.29), I2 = 91%, p = 0.01 | 565/466 | 7 |
| Yang, 2020 | MD = −2.16, 95% CI (−3.19, −1.12), I2 = 92%, p < 0.00001 | 239/239 | 7 | |
| Zhang, 2018 | MD = −2.29, 95% CI (−4.02, −0.57), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 356/361 | 6 | |
| CHM + WM vs. WM | ||||
| Total effective rate | Zhou, 2020 | OR = 4.17, 95% CI (3.05, 5.70), I2 = 0%, p < 0.0001 | 668/666 | 14 |
| Li, 2012 | RR = 1.26, 95% CI (1.18, 1.35), I2 = 1%, p < 0.001 | 473/473 | 8 | |
| Wang, 2019 | RR = 1.26, 95% CI (1.19, 1.33), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 573/540 | 13 | |
| Wu, 2019 | RR = 1.15, 95% CI (1.04, 1.28), I2 = 74%, p = 0.007 | 328/332 | 7 | |
| Yang, 2020 | OR = 4.03, 95% CI (2.48, 6.56), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 342/335 | 9 | |
| Zhang, 2018 | OR = 2.67, 95% CI (1.55, 4.60), I2 = 0%, p < 0.0001 | 228/216 | 3 | |
| Huang, 2018 | OR = 3.07, 95% CI (1.95, 4.82), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 378/370 | 8 | |
| Guan, 2017 | OR = 3.25, 95% CI (2.69, 3.93), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 1839/1731 | 25 | |
| Hao, 2020 | OR = 3.55, 95% CI (2.76, 4.57), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 1,143/1,080 | 19 | |
| Feng, 2008 | OR = 3.13, 95% CI (1.77, 5.55), I2 = 0%, p < 0.0001 | 356/270 | 7 | |
| Wu, 2015 | RR = 1.10, 95% CI (1.04, 1.16), I2 = 78%, p < 0.01 | 1,209/899 | 21 | |
| Cure rate | Zhou, 2020 | OR = 3.26, 95% CI (2.29, 4.63), I2 = 46%, p < 0.00001 | 668/666 | 14 |
| Yang, 2020 | OR = 2.15, 95% CI (1.55, 2.98), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 342/335 | 9 | |
| Hao, 2020 | OR = 2.47, 95% CI (2.05, 2.98), I2 = 29%, p < 0.00001 | 1,091/1,028 | 18 | |
| Markedly effective rate | Wu, 2015 | RR = 1.34, 95% CI (1.20, 1.51), I2 = 75%, p < 0.01 | 1,027/829 | 19 |
| PASI 60 | Zhang, 2016 | RR = 1.40, 95% CI (1.31, 1.50), I2 = 0%, p < 0.05 | 824/807 | 17 |
| Yang, 2015 | RR = 1.35, 95% CI (1.26, 1.45), I2 = 4%, p < 0.00001 | 695/647 | 17 | |
| PASI 90 | Zhang, 2016 | RR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.37, 1.75), I2 = 0%, p < 0.05 | 824/807 | 17 |
| Yang, 2015 | RR = 1.71, 95% CI (1.45, 2.01), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 695/647 | 17 | |
| PASI score | Zhou, 2020 | MD = −2.25, 95% CI (−3.69, −0.82), I2 = 88%, p = 0.002 | 155/157 | 4 |
| Wu, 2019 | MD = −2.34, 95% CI (−2.77, −1.91), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001 | 244/244 | 5 | |
| Yang, 2020 | MD = −3.27, 95% CI (−4.90, −1.65), I2 = 98%, p < 0.00001 | 255/252 | 5 | |
| Zhang, 2018 | MD = −2.78, 95% CI (−3.86, −1.70), I2 = 86%, p < 0.00001 | 96/96 | 2 | |
| Huang, 2018 | Decline of PASI score: MD = 3.03, 95% CI (2.21, 3.85), I2 = 62%, p < 0.00001 | 378/370 | 8 | |
| Guan, 2017 | MD = −3.46, 95% CI (−4.66, −2.26), I2 = 93%, p < 0.00001 | 869/793 | 12 | |
| Hao, 2020 | MD = −2.21, 95% CI (−2.98, −1.43), I2 = 68%, p < 0.00001 | 192/192 | 4 | |
| Wu, 2015 | MD = −2.35, 95% CI (−3.64, −1.06), I2 = 83%, p = 0.0003 | 129/109 | 3 | |
| Recurrence rate | Li, 2012 | RR = 0.26, 95% CI (0.11, 0.60), I2 = 1%, p = 0.002 | 124/131 | 2 |
| Guan, 2017 | OR = 0.27, 95% CI (0.18, 0.42), I2 = 34%, p < 0.00001 | 289/186 | 5 | |
| Hao, 2020 | OR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.24, 0.69), I2 = 0%, p = 0.0008 | 228/228 | 5 | |
| Adverse events incidence | Zhou, 2020 | OR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.27, 0.95), I2 = 67%, p = 0.04 | 605/603 | 12 |
| Li, 2012 | RR = 0.88, 95% CI (0.42, 1.84), I2 = 70%, p = 0.74 | 395/395 | 7 | |
| Huang, 2018 | OR = 1.30, 95% CI (0.80, 2.12), I2 = 0%, p = 0.29 | 378/370 | 8 | |
| Guan, 2017 | OR = 0.59, 95% CI (0.33, 1.05), I2 = 75%, p = 0.07 | 1,010/939 | 13 | |
| Hao, 2020 | OR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.38, 1.20), I2 = 64%, p = 0.18 | 440/426 | 8 | |
| Yang, 2015 | RR = 0.66, 95% CI (0.46, 0.96), I2 = 53%, p < 0.05 | 464/428 | 12 | |
CHM, Chinese herbal medicine; WM, Western medicine; RR, risk ratio; OR, odds ratio; MD, mean difference; CI, confidence interval.