A Study Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study on the Effect of Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills on Exercise Endurance and Quality of Life in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is widely used in China, but it does not fundamentally improve exercise endurance or reduce mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. Standardized cardiac rehabilitation (CR) can reduce the mortality associated with coronary heart disease and reduce the need for repeated PCI procedures. Currently, research on CR after PCI is mainly based on traditional exercise prescription, while research on TCM is limited. Often, the combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and exercise rehabilitation is adopted, from which it is difficult to determine the unique advantages of TCM. Qishen Yiqi dripping pills (QSYQ) can improve myocardial energy metabolism and alleviate myocardial reperfusion injury after PCI. This paper describes the protocol for the clinical assessment of QSYQ on CR. Methods. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will be used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of QSYQ on improving exercise endurance and quality of life. We plan to recruit 66 patients with stable angina pectoris with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome differentiation after PCI from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. On the basis of conventional drug treatment, QSYQ or placebo will be used for 12 weeks. PeakVO2 will be the main efficacy evaluation index, while Seattle scale and quality of life scale will be the secondary efficacy evaluation indexes. Discussion. CR therapy with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine has been developed as a treatment modality in China and has been included in the expert consensus of TCM diagnosis and treatment. A rigorous trial design will ensure objective and scientific evaluation of the efficacy and safety of QSYQ in improving exercise endurance and quality of life in patients with PCI. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with Clinical trial registration in China: ChiCTR2000040838 (registration date: December 11, 2020).