title: Shensongyangxin Capsules for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Shensongyangxin Capsules (SSYX) for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for randomized clinical trials for SSYX in PAF up to June 2015. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality. RevMan 5.3 was used to synthesize the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 22 trials involving 2,347 PAF patients. The quality of the included studies was generally poor. The results of the meta-analysis showed that SSYX plus routine treatment was more effective at improving P-wave dispersion (Pwd) and the frequency of PAF attacks compared with routine treatment alone. The results from the included trials that compared SSYX plus routine treatment and arrhythmic drugs plus routine treatment were inconsistent. Trials reported on Pwd, quality of life, frequency of PAF attacks or maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and found that SSYX combined with anti-arrhythmic drugs plus routine treatment was more effective than anti-arrhythmic drugs plus routine treatment. Four of the trials reported adverse events, indicating that SSYX was potentially safer than anti-arrhythmic drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be some benefit from the use of SSYX. However, due to poor methodological quality, we could not draw confirmative conclusions regarding the beneficial effect of using SSYX.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beixiange 5, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.|Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beixiange 5, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.|Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Hubei, 430065, China.
authors.forename: Benjun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beixiange 5, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beixiange 5, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beixiange 5, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoling
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beixiange 5, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Zhenpeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beixiange 5, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Qingyong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017594:Publication Bias; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C530959:shensongyangxin