Ivy leaves extract EA 575 in the treatment of cough during acute respiratory tract infections: meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials

Abstract

Ivy leaves extracts have been used successfully to treat acute cough, and data from well-controlled trials is accumulating. We present a meta-analysis of two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Patients with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) received ivy leaves dry extract EA 575 (n = 228) or placebo (n = 162) for 7 days, followed by a 7-day period without treatment. The main efficacy outcome was the Bronchitis Severity Score (BSS). Individual patient data meta-analyses were performed using mixed models for repeated measures, analysis of covariance and logistic ordinal regression. Significant BSS differences between EA 575 and placebo occurred already after 2 days and increased until treatment end, with BSS reductions of 8.6 ± 0.2 and 6.2 ± 0.2 (marginal means ± SEM; p < 0.001). The score reduction for placebo after 7 days was comparable to that for EA 575 after 4 days. In the EA 575 group, the proportion of cough-free patients was 18.1% at treatment end and 56.2% at end of follow-up, compared to 9.3% and 25.6% for placebo, respectively. Adverse event rates for EA 575 and placebo were comparable. EA 575 reduces effectively the intensity of acute cough associated with ARTIs and leads to a significant acceleration of recovery. No safety signals were observed.

Cough in children: features of diagnosis and choice of therapy

“…Проведенный метаанализ двух двой ных слепых рандомизированных плацебо-контролируемых исследований позволил установить, что экстракт листьев плюща эффективно снижает интенсивность острого кашля, связанного с ОРИ, и приводит к значительному ускорению выздоровления [19]. В исследовании приняло участие 390 пациентов с острой инфекцией дыхательных путей, которые были разделены на 2 группы.…”

“…Благоприятный профиль безопасности препарата Геделикс ® обусловливает его сильные стороны по сравнению с другими препаратами экстракта плюща [19][20][21]. Так, сироп Геделикс ® и новая форма Геделикс ® Кирш (со вкусом вишни и малины) могут назначаться детям с первых дней жизни, а длительность применения зависит от тяжести заболевания, но не менее 7 дней, после исчезновения симптомов лечение продолжают в течение 2-3 дней.…”

Aufstieg in die höchste Evidenzklasse: Metaanalyse untermauert die Evidenz von EA 575® bei akutem Husten

“…Aufbauend auf diesem groß angelegten systematischen Review wurden die beiden Studien mit Efeu-Spezial-Extrakt EA 575®, denen ein geringes Biasrisiko zugeordnet war, separat in einer Metaanalyse quantitativ analysiert und zusammengefasst [5]. Für die Evidenzsynthese durch die gepoolte Quantifizierung von Effektstärken aus beiden RCT werden in dieser Metaanalyse Individualdaten berücksichtigt.…”

Promoted to the highest evidence class: meta-analysis supports the evidence for EA 575® in treating acute cough

“…Building on this largescale systematic review, the two studies with special ivy extract EA 575®, which were assigned a low bias risk, were quantitatively analysed separately in a meta analysis and summarised [5]. Individual data are included in this metaanalysis for evidence synthesis through pooled quantification of effect sizes from both RCTs.…”