Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40770927›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of medicine2025

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for peripheral arterial disease-related intermittent claudication: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Peiyuan Tang, Ting Wen, Jingyue Su, Shanshan Gao, Shengwu Yang, Chunwu Zhang, Wenfeng Xiao, Yusheng Li, Zhenhan Deng

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Peiyuan TangDeparment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China.
Ting WenDeparment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China.
Jingyue SuDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Shanshan GaoDepartment of Cardiology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
Shengwu YangDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Chunwu ZhangDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Wenfeng XiaoDeparment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China.
Yusheng LiDeparment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China.
Zhenhan DengDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0522-8269

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntermittent claudication (IC) is a common manifestation of peripheral arterial disease. This study evaluates the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), a non-invasive treatment, for patients with IC.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of four major databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) was conducted through March 2025. Eight studies met inclusion criteria for the analysis, which was performed using Review Manager 5.4 with evidence strength assessed by the GRADE system.

resultsThe analysis included eight studies with a total of 332 patients (mean age >50 years, 67.5% male). Compared to placebo, ESWT demonstrated significant improvements in functional outcomes. It led to substantial increases in both Pain-Free Walking Distance (MD=26.53,

conclusionESWT is associated with improved walking distance and quality of life in patients with IC. These findings require cautious interpretation due to the limited number of studies and small sample sizes. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Extracorporeal Shockwave TherapyIntermittent ClaudicationPeripheral Arterial DiseaseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeWalkingExtracorporeal shock wave therapyintermittent claudicationmeta-analysissystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40770927
PMCPMC12332995

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.