Table 6.

GRADE evidence profile.

TABLE 6b | GRADE evidence profile of QOL (mean ± SD) and levels of peripheral blood lymphocytes.
Outcomes (Trials)	Quality assessment					No. of patients		Mean difference (95% CI)	Quality
	Risk of bias	Inconsistency	Indirectness	Imprecision	Reporting bias	Astragalus-Containing TCM	PBC
QOL, according to mean ± SD (6)	Seriousa	Nof	No	No	No	167	162	MD 12.39 higher (5.48 to 19.3 higher)	⊕⊕⊕O
									Moderate
CD3+ T cells (8)	Seriousa	Nof	No	No	No	308	305	MD 11.51 higher (5.94 to 17.08 higher)	⊕⊕⊕O
									Moderate
CD3+CD4+ T cells (8)	Seriousa	Nof	No	No	No	308	305	MD 6.44 higher (4.25 to 8.62 higher)	⊕⊕⊕O
									Moderate
CD4+/CD8+ T cells ratio (10)	Seriousa	Nof	No	No	No	405	391	MD 0.41 higher (0.27 to 0.55 higher)	⊕⊕⊕O
									Moderate
NK cells (6)	Seriousa	Nof	No	No	No	239	222	MD 4.58 higher (2.41 to 6.76 higher)	⊕⊕⊕O
									Moderate

ORR, objective response rate; DCR, disease control rate; QOL, quality of life; NK cells, natural killer cells; CI, confidence interval.

^aMost trials had unclear risk, and with high risk, but the result had good robustness. The evidence was rated down by only one level.

^bMost trials had unclear risk and with high risk, and the result had poor robustness. The evidence was rated down by two levels.

^cMost trials had unclear risk and the trials were no high risk, but the result had good robustness. The evidence was rated down by only one level.

^dMost trials had unclear risk and the trials were no high risk, but the result had poor robustness. The evidence was rated down by two levels.

^eThe sample size for each outcome was fewer than 300 cases. Therefore, the evidence was rated down by one level.

^fHeterogeneity presented in them, and the results had good robustness. Not rated down.

^gHeterogeneity presented in them, and the result had poor robustness. The evidence was rated down by one level.