title: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of the effects of qili qiangxin capsules in patients with chronic heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of qili qiangxin capsules in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Qili qiangxin capsules are a traditional Chinese medicine that has been approved in China for the treatment of CHF, but the evidence supporting its efficacy remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 512 patients with CHF were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive the placebo or qili qiangxin capsules in addition to their standard medications for the treatment of CHF. The primary endpoint was the reduction or percent change in the plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level during 12 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 12-week follow-up, a significant reduction in the NT-proBNP level from baseline was observed in both groups, but the qili qiangxin capsule group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction than the placebo group (p = 0.002); 47.95% of patients in the qili qiangxin capsule group demonstrated reductions in NT-proBNP levels of at least 30% compared with 31.98% of patients in the placebo group (p < 0.001). Treatment with qili qiangxin capsules also demonstrated superior performance in comparison to the placebo with respect to New York Heart Association functional classification, left ventricular ejection fraction, 6-min walking distance, and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On a background of standard treatment, qili qiangxin capsules further reduced the levels of NT-proBNP. Together, our data suggest that qili qiangxin capsules could be used in combination therapy for CHF.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: xinli3267@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Xinli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zhangjian62@medmail.com.cn.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: huangjun@njmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Aiqun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Beijing Hospital, Ministry of Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiefu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zonggui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Peking University Clinical Research Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Boli
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Runlin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); C572413:qiliqiangxin; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: 6-min walking distance; 6MWD; CCE; CHF; LVEF; MLHFQ; Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire; N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide; NT-proBNP; TCM; chronic heart failure; composite cardiac event(s); left ventricular ejection fraction; qili qiangxin capsules; randomized controlled trial; traditional Chinese medicine