Outcome of the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for functional constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 1 Summary of meta-analysis results

Outcomes	No. of studies in meta-analysis	No. of participants		Results			Heterogeneity
		T	C	OR/MD	95%CI	P value	Chi- square test	I2	P value
ER	97	4455	4238	3.62	(3.19, 4.11)	< 0.00001	85.79	0%	0.76
PEG	31	1429	1399	2.42	(1.91, 3.08)	< 0.00001	28.03	0%	0.57
Mosapride	21	881	834	3.49	(2.67, 4.56)	< 0.00001	14.87	0%	0.78
Lactulose	24	1102	1018	3.71	(2.86, 4.82)	< 0.00001	11.17	0%	0.98
Phenolphthalein	7	294	287	4.59	(2.71, 7.76)	< 0.00001	1.13	0%	0.98
Probiotics	8	410	362	4.95	(3.21, 7.65)	< 0.00001	0.63	0%	1
Placebo	6	339	338	7.09	(4.83, 10.43)	< 0.00001	4.84	0%	0.44
GS	78	3438	3288	4.03	(3.49, 4.65)	< 0.00001	70.74	0%	0.68
PEG	26	1078	1038	2.69	(2.06, 3.51)	< 0.00001	21.54	0%	0.66
Mosapride	17	714	673	3.98	(2.93, 5.41)	< 0.00001	10.92	0%	0.81
Lactulose	23	1046	978	3.89	(2.97, 5.09)	< 0.00001	8.08	0%	1
Phenolphthalein	1	57	57	5.85	(1.22, 28.05)	0.03	-	-	-
Probiotics	6	234	234	6.21	(3.60, 10.70)	< 0.00001	1.83	0%	0.87
Placebo	5	309	308	8.4	(5.64, 12.52)	< 0.00001	3.87	0%	0.42
BM	15	663	652	0.83	(0.67, 0.98)	< 0.00001	71.74	80%	< 0.00001
PEG	6	264	258	0.65	(0.28, 1.02)	0.0006	37.91	87%	< 0.00001
Mosapride	5	215	210	0.94	(0.64, 1.24)	< 0.00001	15.43	74%	0.004
Lactulose	1	55	55	0.98	(0.81, 1.15)	< 0.00001	-	-	-
Phenolphthalein	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Probiotics	1	30	30	0.61	(0.39, 0.83)	-	-	-	-
Placebo	2	99	99	0.99	(0.87, 1.11)	< 0.00001	0	0%	1
BSS	7	303	284	1.63	(1.15, 2.32)	0.006	1.77	0%	0.94
PEG	4	187	183	1.48	(0.96, 2.28)	0.15	1.16	0%	0.76
Mosapride	2	60	61	1.88	(0.79, 4.44)	0.15	0.01	0%	0.92
Lactulose	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Phenolphthalein	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Probiotics	1	56	40	2.07	(0.90, 4.74)	0.09	-	-	-
Placebo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Recurrence	5	137	78	0.47	(0.22, 0.99)	0.05	4.42	9%	0.35
PEG	1	27	25	0.66	(0.20, 2.13)	0.49	-	-	-
Mosapride	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lactulose	1	42	40	0.31	(0.10, 0.91)	0.03	-	-	-
Phenolphthalein	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Probiotics	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Placebo	3	68	13	0.5	(0.08, 3.19)	0.46	3.47	42%	0.18

Ps: Data were meta-analyzed by using a random-effects model and are presented as OR or MD as appropriate. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed by using the chi-square test and quantified by using the I² statistic. ER: Efficacy rate; PEG: Polyethylene glycol; GS: Global symptom; BM: Bowel movement; BSS: Bristol Stool Scale; RR: Recurrence rate; AEs: Adverse effects.