Article Figures & Data
- Figure 1
Flow diagram of study selection. RCT, randomised controlled trial.
- Figure 2
The improvement of integrated medicine compared with western medicine only in dependency.
- Figure 3
The improvement of integrated medicine compared with western medicine only in motor function.
- Figure 4
The improvement of integrated medicine compared with western medicine only in depression.
- Figure 5
The improvement of integrated medicine compared with western medicine only in swallowing function.
- Table 1
GRADE‡ summary of findings of outcomes
Outcomes Effects 95% CI* Certainty of the evidence† Interpretations Improvement in dependency
(CHM+WM vs WM)SMD 0.93 95% CI (0.43 to 1.42). Based on data from 809 patients in seven studies Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) CHM+WM may improve dependency Improvement in dependency
(Acu‡+WM vs. WM)SMD 1.18 95% CI (0.79 to 1.56). Based on data from 623 patients in seven studies Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) Acu +WM may improve dependency Improvement in motor function
(CHM+WM vs. WM)SMD 1.27 95% CI (0.61 to 1.93). Based on data from 473 patients in three studies Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) CHM+WM may improve motor function Improvement in motor function
(Acu +WM vs. WM)SMD 0.76 95% CI (0.32 to 1.2). Based on data from 976 patients in eight studies Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) Acu +WM may improve motor function. Improvement in depression
(CHM+WM vs. WM)SMD −1.39 95% CI (−1.96 to 0.83). Based on data from 641 patients in seven studies Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) CM+WM may improve depression. Improvement in depression
(Acu +WM vs. WM)SMD −0.72 95% CI (−1.30 to 0.15). Based on data from 458 patients in six studies Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) Acu +WM may improve depression. Improvement in swallowing function (Acu +WM vs. WM) SMD −0.78 95% CI (−1.22 to 0.34). Based on data from 639 patients in eight studies Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) Acu +WM may improve swallowing function. *SMD=0.2, 0.5, 0.8 were considered as small effect, moderate effect and large effect, respectively.
†The certainty of evidence is divided into three levels: high quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect; moderate quality: further research is unlikely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate; low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate; very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.
‡GRADE: The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation working group.
Acu, acupuncture; CHM, Chinese Herbal Medicine; SMD, standard mean difference; WM, western medicine.
- Table 2
Subgroup analysis on the duration of treatment
Subgroup analysis Number of studies (number of patients) SMD, 95% CI P interaction Improvement in dependency Short duration (≤1 month) 17 (1980) 0.92 (0.58 to 1.26) 0.43 Longer term duration (>1 month) 10 (781) 1.12 (0.75 to 1.5) Improvement in motor function Short duration (≤1 month) 20 (2541) 0.71 (0.40 to 1.02) 0.66 Longer term duration (>1 month) 6 (558) 0.85 (0.33 to 1.36) Improvement in depression Short duration (≤1 month) 9 (809) −1.19 (−1.62 to to 0.76) 0.23 Longer term duration (>1 month) 6 (466) −0.76 (−1.31 to 0.21) Improvement in swallowing function Short duration (≤1 month) 10 (801) −0.66 (−1.02 to 0.30) 0.60 Longer term duration (>1 month) 3 (273) −0.53 (−0.86 to 0.20) SMD, standard mean difference.
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Supplementary Data
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