title: Chinese herbal medicine for patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia: protocol for a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of patients with vascular cognitive impairment but no dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will perform a comprehensive retrieval in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wan-fang database and other sources. After screening the studies, the methodological quality of all included trials will be assessed according to the risk of bias instrument provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials will be conducted using RevMan V.5.3 software. Funnel plot analysis and Egger's test will be used to assess publication bias, if possible. The quality of evidence will be assessed by the GRADE system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This systematic review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and a relevant conference presentation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO CRD 42015023682.
authors.affiliation: Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical research Service Group, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jingmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical research Service Group, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shaonan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical research Service Group, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xinfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony Lin
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Charlie Changli
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Chuanjian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003704:Dementia; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017594:Publication Bias; D012107:Research Design; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: Chinese herbal medicine; Protocol; Systematic review; Vascular cognitive impairment no dementia