Basic characteristics of the included studies
| References | Sample size (randomised/ analysed) M/F | Age (years) | Diagnosis standard | Baseline SBP (mmHg) | Baseline DBP (mm Hg) | Baseline difference | Intervention | Control | Treatment duration | Adverse effects report | Main outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hu 201235 | 40/40 T: 12/8 C: 13/7 | T: 66.72 C: 65.29 | CGMH-2004; GCRNDTCM | NR | NR | NSD | ZWD (1 dose/day) | Extended release nifedipine tablets (18 mg, tid) and captopril (12 mg, bid) | 15 days | No | (a) BP; (b) TCM symptoms and syndromes |
| Li and Shen 201236 | 60/60 T: 18/12 C: 19/11 | T: 69.53 C: 69.31 | WHO/ISH GMH-1999; GCRNDTCM | NR | NR | NSD | ZWD (1 dose/day) | Extended release nifedipine tablets (20 mg, bid) and captopril (10 mg, qd) | 2 weeks | No | (a) BP; (b) TCM symptoms and syndromes |
| Shen 200437 | 77/77 T: 29/16 C: 18/14 | T: 64.39±8.72 C: 63.28±7.62 | GCRNDTCM | NR | NR | NSD | Modified ZWD (1 dose/day) | Hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg, qd) | 2 weeks | No | (a) BP; (b) TCM symptoms and syndromes |
| Jiang et al 201338 | 80/80 T: 40 C: 40 M/F: NR | 21–65 | NR | T: 172.00±17.00 C: 168.00±12.00 | T: 96.00±10.00 C: 94.00±11.00 | NSD | T: modified ZWD (1 dose/day) + C | Valsartan (30 mg, qd) | 4 weeks | No | (a) SBP; (b) DBP |
| Li 200939 | 76/76 T: 21/19 C: 19/17 | T: 66.60±8.40 C: 66.30±8.60 | IM-2004 | NR | NR | NSD | T: modified ZWD (1 dose/day) + C | Extended release nifedipine tablets (10 mg, bid) | 1 month | No | (a) BP; (b) TCM symptoms and syndromes |
| Jiang 200940 | 78/78 T: 24/19 C: 19/16 | T: 59.30±13.50 C: 62.40±11.90 | NR | NR | NR | NSD | T: modified ZWD (1 dose/day) + C | Antihypertensive drugs (ACEI, ARB, CCB or indapamide) | 1 month | No | (a) BP; (b) TCM symptoms and syndromes |
| Zhong 201441 | 61/61 T: 19/11 C: 20/11 | T: 46–72 C: 48–77 | CGMH-2004 | NR | NR | NSD | T: modified ZWD (1 dose/day) + C | Amlodipine (5 mg, qd) | 4 weeks | No | (a) BP; (b) TCM symptoms and syndromes |
ACEI, ACE inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker; bid, twice daily; BP, blood pressure; C, control group; CCB, calcium channel blocker; CGMH, Chinese guidelines for the management of hypertension; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; GCRNDTCM, Guidelines of Clinical Research of New Drugs of Traditional Chinese Medicine; F, female; IM, internal medicine; M, male; NR, not reported; NSD, no significant difference; SBP, systolic blood pressure; T, treatment group; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; qd, four times daily; tid, three times daily; WHO/ISH GMH, WHO/International Society for Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension; ZWD, Zhen Wu Decoction.