Comprehensive effects of traditional Chinese medicine treatment on heart failure and changes in B-type natriuretic peptide levels: A meta-analysis

Table 2 Rating of quality of evidence

Outcome indicators	Number of trials (practice/sample size)	Analysis results	Limitation	Inconsistency	Indirectness	Inaccuracy	Publication biases	Quality of evidence
Improving comprehensive clinical outcomes	16 (1294/1659)	RR = 3.20; 95%CI = 2.40, 4.26; P < 0.00001	Downgrade by one level1	No	No	No	Downgrade by one level3	Low
Lowering TCM syndrome scores	4 (400)	WMD = -0.54; 95%CI = -0.61, -0.47, P < 0.00001	Downgrade by one level1	No	No	Downgrade by half a level2	Not found	Medium
Reducing BNP levels	3 (300)	WMD = -142.07, 95%CI = -147.56, -136.57, P < 0.00001	Downgrade by one level1	No	No	Downgrade by half a level2	Not found	Medium

¹Inadequate allocation concealment and lack of blinding.

²The total sample size does not match the optimal sample size.

³Suspicion of publication biases. TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine.