Meta-Analysis of the Influence of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Cognitive Dysfunction After Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) constitutes a highly lethal form of cerebrovascular disease. A frequent consequence of HICH is cognitive dysfunction, which significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Despite the burgeoning interest in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (ITCWM) for the rehabilitation of cognitive deficits following HICH, the available evidence supporting its efficacy remains limited.

AIM: This study seeks to summarize the efficacy and safety of ITCWM in addressing cognitive dysfunction resulting from HICH using meta-analysis.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted across the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, CQVIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Studies were selected based on criteria. Quality assessment was evaluated through the Cochrane tool. Pooled results for continuous data were analyzed using the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Binary categorical data were summarily analyzed using risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI.

RESULTS

A total of 13 RCTs involving 1123 patients were included. ITCWM significantly reduced NIHSS score (SMD = -2.36, 95% CI: -4.92, 0.19) and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome (TCMS) scores (SMD = -3.28, 95% CI: -4.02, -2.54), while improving activities of daily living (SMD = 3.67, 95% CI: 2.09, 5.26) and cognitive function scores (SMD = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.41, 2.14). The incidence of adverse events (RR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.46) was significantly lower in the ITCWM group. Subgroup analyses supported these findings, indicating that longer treatment durations (≥ 3 weeks) and multiple TCM therapies were associated with better outcomes.

CONCLUSION

ITCWM demonstrates both effectiveness and safety in the management of post-HICH cognitive dysfunction, improving neurological function, daily living abilities, and cognitive function while reducing adverse events.