Efficacy and safety of Tongmai Jiangtang Capsule in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease with syndrome of damp - heat obstructing collaterals.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tongmai Jiangtang Capsule (TJC) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease (T2DM-CHD) presenting with the damp-heat obstructing collaterals syndrome.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 360 patients with T2DM-CHD from 12 centers. Participants were randomized 2:1 to receive TJC or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion achieving ≥1-grade improvement in Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina classification. Secondary outcomes included Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, TCM syndrome scores, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, lipid profiles, nitroglycerin usage, and treadmill test performance (subset). Safety was evaluated by laboratory tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and adverse event monitoring.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, the response rate in CCS classification improvement was 65.8% in the TJC group and 45.8% in the placebo group, with an absolute difference of 17.9% (95% CI: 5.8% to 32.9%; p < 0.05), meeting the predefined superiority criterion. TJC also led to greater improvements in SAQ and TCM scores (p < 0.05). No between-group differences were observed in FPG or HbA1c. HDL-C increased significantly in the TJC group (p < 0.05), independent of lipid-lowering drugs. Nitroglycerin usage decreased in both groups, but without a significant intergroup difference. TJC was well tolerated, with a low incidence of mild adverse events.

CONCLUSION

TJC significantly improves angina symptoms, TCM syndromes, and HDL-C levels in patients with T2DM-CHD, with good safety, supporting its role as a complementary therapy.