A meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the effect of buflomedil on intermittent claudication

Abstract

A meta-analysis was performed on the results of clinical trials of buflomedil in intermittent claudication. The analysis used results from 744 patients enrolled in ten studies, conducted at 42 centers in seven countries. All studies were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials which measured improvement in "pain-free" walking distance by treadmill ergometry as the primary measure of efficacy. The meta-analysis results were based on "effect size", a standardized difference in mean response between buflomedil and placebo. Results demonstrated a statistically superior response to buflomedil compared with placebo, indicating that the average buflomedil treated patient was likely to have a greater improvement in walking distance than at least 60% of the placebo treated patients. Results were corroborated using various weighting schemes proportional to study quality ratings and sample sizes.