Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Patients With Chronic Wound: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Xia Hao, Dongzhen Zhu, Jinbo Zhang, Tingting Liu, Zhimin Yao, Qingju Sun, Bin Yao, Wei YangABSTRACT
Background and Aims
Chronic wounds, characterized by complex pathogenesis, prolonged healing duration, and high disability rates, pose significant therapeutic challenges. While accumulating evidence suggests that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) exhibits unique advantages in managing this condition, a comprehensive systematic evaluation of its efficacy and safety remains lacking. This study aims to critically assess the therapeutic effects and adverse event profiles of TCM interventions for chronic wounds.
Methods
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of international online databases was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, OVID‐Medline, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database were searched using appropriate keywords from January 2013 to June 2024. RevMan 5.4 software recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration was used for meta‐analysis, was analyzed and the heterogeneity of statistical results using statamp‐64.
Results
The analysis incorporated 128 observational studies involving 9833 participants. TCM interventions demonstrated superior outcomes compared to controls across multiple endpoints: (1) Significant reduction in TCM syndrome scores (SMD = −0.84, 95% CI: −1.05 to −0.63; p < 0.00001); (2) Markedly lower visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores (SMD = −1.90, 95% CI: −2.53 to −1.27; p < 0.00001); (3) Favorable safety profile with reduced adverse reaction (RR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.22‐0.88; p = 0.02; I² = 50%); (4) Enhanced clinical efficacy through improved total effectiveness rate (RR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.19‐1.27; p < 0.00001) and recovery rate (RR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.88‐2.14; p < 0.0001); (5) Accelerated wound healing evidenced by decreased wound area (SMD = −2.21, 95% CI: −2.65 to −1.76; p < 0.00001) and shortened healing time (SMD = −1.93, 95% CI: −2.22 to −1.64; p < 0.00001).
Conclusion
Our meta‐analysis demonstrates that TCM‐based therapies not only effectively alleviate clinical symptoms and improve quality of life but also accelerate wound repair in chronic wound patients without severe adverse reactions.