Meta-analysis of effect of β-blockers on treatment of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of β-blockers in treatment of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome( POTS) in children. Methods Clinical controlled trials were collected from a variety of medical electronic databases including PubMed(1990-2014),Excerpta Medica database(EMBASE 1990-2014),ELSEVIER(1990-2014),China National Knowledge Internet(CNKI 1990—2014) and WANFANG(1990—2014) by 2 researchers simultaneously and respectively based on same inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies were assessed based on the Juni scale evaluation,and the Meta-analysis was conducted using the Rev-Man 5. 0 software. Results In total 8 clinical trials were included out of over 200 papers. Possible publication bias were assessed by Funnel plot analysis. Meta analy-sis of the 8 studies demonstrated that compared with the placebo group, metoprolol group showed significantly better ef-ficacy in treating children with POTS(RR=0. 37,95%CI0. 21-0. 64,P=0. 000 5). Furthermore,these included trials were divided into different subgroups based on trial design ( randomized controlled trial/non-randomized con-trolled trial and Scored/N-scored) . Although no statistical heterogeneities were detected within each subgroups by the subgroup analysis,marked heterogeneities were found among subgroups; there was no significant difference of efficacy between metoprolol and placebos in treating POTS in non-randomized controlled trial group(RR=0. 68,95%CI0. 45-1. 02,P=0. 06). Conclusions Low-dose metoprolol is effective in treating POTS,but the conclusion still needs to be tested by more large-scaled,multi-centered and standardized clinical randomized controlled trials.