Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Is Chinese herbal medicine effective for elderly isolated systolic hypertension? A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To study the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) on isolated systolic hypertension.

Methods

Seven electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until August 2015. Subgroup analyses and meta-analysis were performed to assess the efficacy and safety of the included studies.

Results

A total of 24 studies, including 2,096 patients (1,058 patients in the intervention group and 1,038 in the control group), were evaluated in the final analysis. Compared with a conventional therapy used alone, CM as additional intervention was more effective on systolic blood pressure [mean difference (MD)=–0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI)=(–0.97,–0.36), P<0.00001] and significantly diminished the pulse pressure [MD=–7.49, CI=(–12.69,–2.29), P<0.00001]. However it showed no additional benefit on diastolic blood pressure [MD=1.16, CI=(0.02, 2.29), P=0.87]. Adverse events were not explicitly reported in most RCTs.

Conclusions

CM might be a promising approach for the elderly with isolated systolic hypertension, while the evidence for CM employed alone was insufficient. Considering the inherent limitations of the included studies, larger high-quality RCTs with extensive follow-up should be performed to validate our findings in the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lawes CM, Vander Hoorn S, Rodgers A. Global burden of blood-pressure-related disease, 2001. Lancet 2008;371:1513–1518.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Gao Y, Chen G, Tian H, Lin L, Lu J, Weng J, et al. Prevalence of hypertension in China: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2013;8:e65938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Fang XH, Zhang XH, Yang QD, Dai XY, Su FZ, Rao ML, et al. Subtype hypertension and risk of stroke in middleaged and older Chinese, A 10-Year follow-up study. Stroke 2006;37:38–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Izzo JL, Levy D, Black HR. Importance of systolic blood pressure in older Americans. Hypertension 2000;35:1021–1024.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Strandberg TE, Pitkala K. What is the most important component of blood pressure: systolic, diastolic or pulse pressure? Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2003;12:293–297.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Staessen JA, Gasowski J, Wang JG, Thijs L, Den Hond E, Boissel JP, et al. Risks of untreated and treated isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly: meta-analysis of outcome trials. Lancet 2000;355:865–872.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dahlöf B, Lindholm LH, Hansson L, Scherstén B, Ekbom T, Wester PO. Morbidity and mortality in the Swedish trial in old patients with hypertension (STOP-Hypertension). Lancet 1991;338:1281–1285.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med 2009;151:264–269.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche PC, Ioannidis JP, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. Ann Intern Med 2009;151:65–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen YY, Liu GL. Clinical observation in 90 cases of elderly isolated systolic hypertension treated with tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation method. Guiding J Tradit Chin Med Pharm (Chin) 2014;4:40–42.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Chen YJ. Clinical observation in 30 cases of simply isolated systolic hypertension treated with Xieheye. Chin J Integr Med Cardio Cerebrovas Dis (Chin) 2003;5:282–283.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gu XH. Clinical observation in 36 cases of elderly isolated systolic hypertension treated with descending qi and activating blood circulation method. Chin J Integr Med Cardio Cerebrovas Dis (Chin) 2008;12:1398–1399.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Guan HL, Zhang J, Liao HY. Clinical investigation of replenishing the lidney and nourishing the liver method for elderly systolic hypertension. Pract Clin J Integr Tradit Chin West Med (Chin) 2014;2:12–13,75.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Huang MA, Chen XL, Jia LW, Zhang JL. Effect of Fufang Danshen Pill on endotheliam-dependent dilation function in patients with elderly isolated systolic hypertension. Acta Chin Med Pharmacol (Chin) 2009;2:32–35,83.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jiang B, Hu YH, Du B, Meng L, Fang YT, Meng H, et al. Bushen Hemai formula for elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension: a randomized double-blind trial. Beijing J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2014;8:563–567.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Li H, Zhao WM, Han YX, Liu JG, Yao MJ, Liu L, et al. Effect of a integrative medical regimen on levels of vascular endothelial function and hypersensitive C-reactive protein in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Chin J Integr Tradit West Med (Chin) 2009;29:115–119.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Li SN, Wei DL. Observation on Linggui Zhugan Decoction for elderly isolated systolic hypertension. Hubei J Chin Med (Chin) 2007;7:27–28.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Li XY, Wu XP. Clinical curative effects analysis of compound Danshen Dripping Pills combined with nimodipine for elderly simple systolic hypertension. Chin Pract Med (Chin) 2009;31:133–134.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Li Y, Zhi QN. Clinical observation in 40 cases of elderly isolated systolic hypertension treated with Yangxue Qingnao Granule and indapamide. Chin J Inform Trad Chin Med (Chin) 2006;8:59–61.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lu F, Yang CH, Wang Z, Liu Y. Curative effects and safety evaluation of Bushen Huoluo prescription for senile ISH: Henan Trad Chin Med (Chin) 2007;27:28–31.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Qian HL, Guo P, Zeng ZL. Clinical observation of integative medicine for elderly isolated systolic hypertension. Henan Chin Med (Chin) 2010;8:790–792.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Qin HP. Yangxue Qingnao Granules combined with enalapril for hypertensive renal impairement in the elderly with isolated systolic hypertension. Chin J Integr Med Cardio-/Cerebrovas Dis (Chin) 2008;11:1363–1364.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Qu F, Dong GY. Clinical observation of integative medicine for elderly isolated systolic hypertension. Shanxi J Trad Chin Med (Chin) 2013;2:30–31.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kong LJ. Bushen Jiangya Decoction as a maily appoach for 32 cases elderly simple systolic hypertension. Zhejiang J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2004;4:12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Wang YX. Bezoar Dropping Pill treatment of senile simple systolic hypertension disease curative effect observation. Cardiovas Dis J Integr Tradit Chin West Med (Chin) 2014;8:7,9.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Wang Y. Clinical observation of an increased pulse pressure in 40 cases elderly isolated systolic hypertension. Jiangsu J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2012;10:31–32.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Yang DY, Liu GF, Wu XL. Clinical observation of Huangqi Xianxiong Capsule on the management of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly. Chin J Arterioscler (Chin) 2007;2:137–140.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yu JX, Li JQ. Clinical investigation of Xuesaitong Soft Capsule as adjunct treatment for elderly isolated systolic hypertension (type of blood-stasis obstructing in the interior). Yunnan J Tradit Chin Med Mater Med (Chin) 2010;4:10,13-15.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zeng XW. Clinical effects and improving survival quality of life of integrative medical regimen in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertention. Chin Foreign Med Res (Chin) 2015;1:16–17.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang YB, Zhang RX, Zhai BY, Cao GS, Gao HB, Yang YL, et al. Integative medicine for elderly isolated systolic hypertension. Chin Heath C Nutr (Chin) 2013;22:247–247.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zhao QL, Wang HJ. Clinical observation of integative medicine for elderly systolic hypertension. Hebei Med J (Chin) 2012;13:2055–2057.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Zou JX, Li L. Efficacy observation of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction for elderly simple systolic hypertension. Pract Clin J Integr Tradit Chin West Med (Chin) 2012;05:20–21.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Zou QL. Clinical curative effects analysis of nitrendipine combine with Naoxintong for elderly simple systolic hypertension. Chin Mod Drug Appl (Chin) 2009;20:123–124.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Zheng XY, ed. Guiding principle of clinical research on new drugs of traditional Chinese Medicine. Beijing: China Medical Science Press; 2002.

  35. Luo H, Li Q, Flower A, Lewith G, Liu J. Comparison of effectiveness and safety between granules and decoction of Chinese herbal medicine: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. J Ethnopharmacol 2012;140:555–567.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China

    Yu Cao & Min Wu

  2. Gerontology Medical Center, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China

    Long-tao Liu

Authors
  1. Yu Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Long-tao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Min Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Min Wu.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81102721 and No. 81202805), a Planned Technologic Item of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 04-05LP30), Chinese National Scientic Fund for Post-Doctor (No. 20070410622), its Special Aid Item (No. 201003226) and the Key Technologies R & D Program of Shandong Province, China (No. 2010 GSF 10289)

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cao, Y., Liu, Lt. & Wu, M. Is Chinese herbal medicine effective for elderly isolated systolic hypertension? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 298–305 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2257-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2257-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation