Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesRandomised controlled trial
The traditional Chinese medicine Qiliqiangxin in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Randomised controlled trial
- double-blind
- placebo-controlled
- multicentre
Authors' conclusion
The results of this trial indicate that QLQX may improve clinical outcomes in patients with HFrEF when added to conventional therapy.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (NT-proBNP ≥450 pg ml-1, LVEF ≤40%), 133 hospitals in China
- Participants
- 3,110 patients
- Comparison
- QLQX vs placebo, alongside standard HF therapy
- Primary endpoint
- Composite of:
- Hospitalization for HF
- CV death
- Follow-up
- Median 18.3 months
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
0.78
95% CI 0.68–0.90
P < 0.001
Events by treatment group
QLQX vs Placebo
HR 0.78 (95% CI 0.68–0.90); P < 0.001
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | QLQX | Placebo | HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitalization for HF | 15.63% | 19.16% | 0.76 (0.64–0.90) | P = 0.002 | |
| CV death | 13.31% | 15.95% | 0.83 (0.68–0.996) | P = 0.045 | |
| All-cause mortality · no significant difference | 0.84 (0.70–1.01) | P = 0.058 | |||
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Safety
Adverse events
- Adverse events comparable between the groups
Original publication
The traditional Chinese medicine Qiliqiangxin in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nat Med. Published 2 August 2024. doi:10.1038/s41591-024-03169-2
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it