Wenxin Keli combined with conventional western medications improved the total effective rate for ventricular premature beat (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06-1.11; P<0.00001), though evidence quality was low.
Systematic Review (n=19,673)
Does Wenxin Keli combined with conventional western medications improve clinical symptoms and Holter ECG parameters in patients with ventricular premature beat?
Wenxin Keli adjuvant therapy may improve symptoms and Holter parameters in ventricular premature beats, but the supporting evidence is of low quality and should be interpreted with caution.
Relative Risk: 1.08 (95% CI 1.06–1.11)
p-value: p=< .00001
Background: Wenxin Keli (WXKL) is a common medication used to treat ventricular premature beat (VPB). As a complementary alternative therapy, the clinical efficacy and safety of WXKL-assisted treatment of VPB has been reported by several systematic reviews (SRs), but the quality of evidence has not been systematically reviewed. Methods: We conducted a literature search on 7 databases until May 1, 2025. Risk of bias in systematic was used to assess the risk of bias in SRs. A measurement tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the SRs, respectively. Grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality grading of outcomes. Results: Eleven SRs, including 211 clinical randomized controlled trials and 19,673 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Four SRs (36.36%) were rated as low risk and 7 SRs (63.64%) were rated as high risk. Only 3 SRs had low methodological quality, while the remaining 8 SRs had critically low methodological quality. We evaluated 46 outcomes, with moderate quality evidence in 6 (13.04%), low-quality evidence in 24 (52.17%), very low-quality evidence in 16 (34.78%). The pooled results suggest that WXKL appears to have an advantage in improving 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram and clinical symptoms in VPB, but the overall efficacy in VPB should be interpreted with caution. Meta-analysis showed that WXKL combined with conventional western medications improved the total effective rate (Relative risk RR = 1.08, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.06–1.11, P < .00001), the effect of 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram (RR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.17–1.27, P < .00001) and clinical symptoms (RR = 3.00, 95% CI: 2.17–4.27, P < .00001). There were no significant differences in adverse effects (RR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.68–1.06, P = .16). Conclusion: WXKL adjuvant therapy of VPB may be effective, but the evidence quality is low. Physicians should choose carefully in the context of the clinical situation when referring to SRs of WXKL for the treatment of VPB for clinical decision making.
Zhou et al. (Fri,) conducted a systematic review in Ventricular premature beat (VPB) (n=19,673). Wenxin Keli (WXKL) combined with conventional western medications vs. Conventional western medications was evaluated on Total effective rate (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.11, p=< .00001). Wenxin Keli combined with conventional western medications improved the total effective rate for ventricular premature beat (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06-1.11; P<0.00001), though evidence quality was low.