Clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicinal preparations containing hawthorn on hyperlipidemia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials 

Background: In China, traditional Chinese medicinal preparations (TCMPs) containing hawthorn (crataegus) are widely recognized for their efficacy in treating hyperlipidemia (HLP). There has been no systematic study of the effects of TCMPs containing hawthorn on patients with HLP. The purpose of this study is to evaluate systematically the efficacy of TCMPs containing hawthorn for treating HLP through a clinical evidence-based study. Materials: and methods: The meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Meta-analyses. An extensive search of 8 electronic databases was conducted to locate relevant randomized controlled trials published between 2010 and 2021. Methodological quality and independent evaluation were conducted using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4. The primary outcome of the study was the Clinical Effective Rate (CER). Secondary outcomes included triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Results: : The results of the meta-analysis showed that, in comparison to conventional treatment alone, TCMPs containing hawthorn significantly decreased CER (RR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.13~1.24, P <0.05), TC (MD=-0.54, 95% CI: -0.84~-0.24 P <0.05) and LDL-C (MD=-0.25, 95% CI: -0.40~-0.11, P< 0.05) and increased HDL-C (MD= 0.26, 95% CI :0.03~0.48, P <0.05). As a result of a varying baseline level of TG, a post-intervention meta-analysis was not possible. Conclusion: TCMPs containing hawthorn have been demonstrated to be superior to conventional treatments in clinical trials for HLP, indicating that they would be a useful addition to conventional treatment for HLP. To confirm the effectiveness and safety of TCMPs that contain hawthorn in the treatment of HLP, more rigorous, long-term randomized controlled clinical trials are required.