Comparative effectiveness of ten traditional Chinese herbal formulas for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a valuable adjunctive approach for respiratory diseases, with accumulating evidence supporting its efficacy in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) management. However, most existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have focused on evaluating single traditional Chinese herbal formulas as an add-on to conventional therapy (CT). The comparative efficacy among these formulas remains uncertain, creating a critical evidence gap that hampers clinical decision-making. Network meta-analysis (NMA) provides a methodological framework to address this limitation by enabling simultaneous comparison of multiple interventions.

Methods

RCTs of these ten herbal formulas in combin

SUBMITTER: Yu E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12852464 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature