The effect of Wenyang Huoxue decoction combined with Baduanjin exercise on the cardiac function and quality of life of patients with Yang deficiency coronary heart disease complicated with chronic heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) caused by coronary heart disease (CHD) is becoming increasingly common, and it still has a high morbidity and mortality rate. Previous studies have found that Wenyang Huoxue decoction combined with Baduanjin exercise can improve the cardiopulmonary function of patients with CHD, but it is not clear whether the heart function of patients with CHD complicated with HF can be improved by this treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of Wenyang Huoxue decoction combined with Baduanjin exercise on CHD complicated with HF.

Methods: Patients with HF who received outpatient and inpatient treatment in the Shanghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between 2019 and 2021 were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group. N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, soluble growth stimulating express gene 2, stroke volume index, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores, and cardiac ultrasound were observed after 12 weeks of treatment.

Results: 100 patients were included, 3 were lost to follow-up, 49 in the treatment group and 48 in the control group. With a 30% reduction of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide as the primary endpoint, the effective rate of the treatment group was 57%, while that of the control group was 35%. In the meanwhile, stroke volume index and ejection fractions increased significantly, while soluble growth stimulating express gene 2 and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores were significantly decreased in the treatment group after treatment. There was no significant improvement trend in the control group.

Conclusions: This study confirmed that treatment with Wenyang Huoxue decoction and Baduanjin exercise can improve the cardiac function and quality of life of patients with CHD complicated with HF and that it may have certain advantages in improving ventricular remodeling.