GRADE‡ summary of findings of outcomes
| Outcomes | Effects 95% CI* | Certainty of the evidence† | Interpretations |
| Improvement in dependency (CHM+WM vs WM) | SMD 0.93 95% CI (0.43 to 1.42). Based on data from 809 patients in seven studies | Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) | CHM+WM may improve dependency |
| Improvement in dependency (Acu‡+WM vs. WM) | SMD 1.18 95% CI (0.79 to 1.56). Based on data from 623 patients in seven studies | Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) | Acu +WM may improve dependency |
| Improvement in motor function (CHM+WM vs. WM) | SMD 1.27 95% CI (0.61 to 1.93). Based on data from 473 patients in three studies | Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) | CHM+WM may improve motor function |
| Improvement in motor function (Acu +WM vs. WM) | SMD 0.76 95% CI (0.32 to 1.2). Based on data from 976 patients in eight studies | Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) | Acu +WM may improve motor function. |
| Improvement in depression (CHM+WM vs. WM) | SMD −1.39 95% CI (−1.96 to 0.83). Based on data from 641 patients in seven studies | Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) | CM+WM may improve depression. |
| Improvement in depression (Acu +WM vs. WM) | SMD −0.72 95% CI (−1.30 to 0.15). Based on data from 458 patients in six studies | Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) | Acu +WM may improve depression. |
| Improvement in swallowing function (Acu +WM vs. WM) | SMD −0.78 95% CI (−1.22 to 0.34). Based on data from 639 patients in eight studies | Low (serious risk of bias, inconsistence) | Acu +WM may improve swallowing function. |
*SMD=0.2, 0.5, 0.8 were considered as small effect, moderate effect and large effect, respectively.
†The certainty of evidence is divided into three levels: high quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect; moderate quality: further research is unlikely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate; low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate; very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.
‡GRADE: The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation working group.
Acu, acupuncture; CHM, Chinese Herbal Medicine; SMD, standard mean difference; WM, western medicine.