Combination of Qi Benefiting and Blood Circulation Promoting Herbs with Dapagliflozin in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Combined with Heart Failure: A Systematic Evaluation and Meta-Analysis Based on a Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: This systematic review examines the efficacy of a combination of Qi benefiting and blood circulation promoting herbs with Dapagliflozin in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with heart failure (HF). Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the combination of Qi benefiting and blood circulation promoting herbs with Dapagliflozin for T2DM and CHF was conducted. The search, spanning from the database’s establishment to June 2023, included seven databases: China Knowledge Network (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Two researchers screened and extracted data based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Cochrane Handbook version 5.1 guided the quality assessment of studies, and the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results: Eleven articles, encompassing a sample size of 1,192 cases, were included. Meta-analysis results indicated that combining Qi benefiting and blood circulation promoting herbs with Dapagliflozin improved the clinical efficacy rate (OR = 4.35, 95% confidence interval [CI; 2.98, 6.35], p < 0.00001). It reduced blood glucose levels, evidenced by decreased fasting blood glucose (FBG) (mean difference [MD] = −1.19, 95% CI [−1.30, −1.09], p < 0.00001), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2hPG) (MD = −1.95, 95% CI [−2.09, −1.80], p < 0.00001), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (MD = −1.40, 95% CI [−1.49, −1.31], p < 0.00001). Inflammatory factors also reduced, including C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD = −4.93, 95% CI [−5.38, −4.48], p < 0.00001), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) (MD = −2.91, 95% CI [−3.32, −2.49], p < 0.00001), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (MD = −11.10, 95% CI [−12.43, −9.43], p < 0.00001). Additionally, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −1.25, 95% CI [−1.45, −1.05], p < 0.00001), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) (SMD = −1.34, 95% CI [−1.51, −1.13], p < 0.00001), and improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (SMD = 2.92, 95% CI [2.65, 3.19], p < 0.00001), 6-min walk test (6MWT) (MD = 35.59, 95% CI [29.72, 41.47], p < 0.00001), and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores (MD = 35.59, 95% CI [29.72, 41.47], p < 0.00001) were observed. The incidence of adverse events also decreased (RR = 0.25, 95% CI [0.11, 0.56], p = 0.0007). Conclusion: The combination of Qi benefiting and blood circulation promoting herbs with Dapagliflozin shows potential in treating patients with T2DM and HF, suggesting its use as adjunctive therapy in clinical practice. However, the limited number and quality of the included studies necessitate further high-quality research to confirm these findings.