Network meta-analysis on 4 types of traditional Chinese medicine injections in the treatment of senile severe pneumonia

Background: As the global population ages, senile severe pneumonia has become a prominent health challenge. Conventional drug treatments have limitations. Meanwhile, 4 types of traditional Chinese medicine injections have shown potential. Thus, it’s necessary to use network meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate their combined effect with conventional drugs on this disease. Methods: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP shop Database, WanFang database, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were included in randomized controlled studies on traditional Chinese medicine injections for the treatment of senile severe pneumonia from the establishment of the library to January 2023. The literature was assessed for risk of bias using the Review Manager 5.3 software. Study outcome indicators were statistically analyzed using Stata 14.0 and Review Manager 5.3 software. Results: Thirty-three studies were included with a total of 2598 patients. The main outcome indicator was the clinical effective rate. Secondary outcome indicators were white blood cell count, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein. The results of network meta-analysis showed that clinical efficacy of Reduning injection combined with conventional drug had the better effect. Xiyanping injection combined with conventional drug could better reduce white blood cell and C-reactive protein indicators. Xuebijing injection combined with conventional drug had better ability to reduce procalcitonin. Conclusion: Reduning injection, Xiyanping injection, Tanreqing injection, and Xuebijing injection combined with conventional drugs in the treatment of senile severe pneumonia can improve the clinical effect.