Table 1

GRADE‡ summary of findings of outcomes

OutcomesEffects 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 studiesLow (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 studiesLow (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 studiesLow (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 studiesLow (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 studiesLow (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 studiesLow (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 studiesLow (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.