EGb in the Treatment for Patients with VCI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Table 2
Summary of findings.
EGb alone or combined with drugs for VCI versus drugs for VCI alone or blank group “Drugs for VCI” and “blank” are abbreviated as “DV” and “B,” respectively.
Patients or population: the patients diagnosed with VCI were not limited in terms of age, sex, and race Intervention: use of EGb alone or combined with drugs for VCI Comparison: drugs for VCI or blank control
Outcomes
Anticipated absolute effects (95% CI)
Relative effect (95% CI)
Number of participants (studies)
Quality of the evidence (GRADE)
Risk with control group
Risk with experimental group
MMSE
EGb vs. B
MMSE mean range 20.1-21.5
MD 3.04 (0.10 lower to 5.98 higher)
—
186 (2 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,3,4
EGb vs. DV
The average levels in the control group were 15.62-16.35
MD 2.7 (1.39 lower to 4.01 higher)
—
169 (2 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,4
vs. B
There was a significant difference in MMSE between EGb + DV and B (P < 0.00001) in one RCT [56].
—
61 (1 RCT)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Low1,2
vs. DV
MMSE range 17.57-24.56
MD 3.14 (0 lower to 4.15 higher)
—
881 (11 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,3,5
MoCA
EGb vs. B
MoCA mean range 12.98-18.4
MD 5.3 (2.15 lower to 8.46 higher)
—
180 (2 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,3,4
vs. B
There was a significant difference in MMSE between and B () in one RCT [58]
—
88 (1 RCT)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Low1,2
vs. DV
MoCA mean range 18.4-22.86
MD 2.56 (2.66 lower to 3.27 higher)
—
622 (6 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,3,5
ADL
EGb vs. B
There was a significant difference in ADL between EGb and B () in one RCT [39]
—
60 (1 RCT)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,4
vs. B
There was a significant difference in ADL between and B () in one RCT [56]
—
61 (1 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,4
vs. DV
ADL mean range 45.1-50.36
MD 9.2 (5.59 lower to 11.41 higher)
—
361 (4 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Medium1
HDS
EGb vs. B
There was a significant difference in HDS between EGb and B () in one RCT [55]
—
126 (1 RCT)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,4
vs. DV
HDSL mean range 22.41-24.16
MD 3.6 (2.5 lower to 4.7 higher)
—
140 (2 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,3
BI
vs. DV
BI mean range 50.1-83.14
MD 5.71 (3.64 lower to 8.43 higher)
—
388 (4 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,3,4,5
FAQ
EGb vs. DV
FAQ mean range 12-13.02
MD1.43 (2.78 higher to 0.08 lower)
—
169 (2 RCTs)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2
vs. DV
There was a significant difference in FAQ between and DV () in one RCT [49]
—
82 (1 RCT)
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2
The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination; MoCA: Montreal Cognitive Assessment; CI: confidence interval; RCT: randomized controlled trials. 1Bias in the integrity of hidden allocation, blind method, and result data. 2Funnel plot asymmetry. 3High heterogeneity, .4Wide confidence interval. 5Differences in the types of cognitive impairment of the subjects, control medication, or course of treatment. Outcomes: EGb vs. B: EGb vs. blank control; EGb vs. DV: EGb vs. drug for VCI; vs. B: for VCI vs. blank control; vs. DV: for VCI vs. drug for VCI.