Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine plus pirfenidone in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 2 Basic information of 5 RCTs

Reference	Location	Study Design	Date of Trial	TG/CG (n)	Age (years, TG/CG)	TG(NAC + PFD,mg/d)	CG(PFD,mg/d)	Duration of Treatment	Outcomes
Sakamoto (2021) [18]	Japan	M,RCT	Jun 2015—Jun 2018	34/36	71.0 ± 7.3/73.3 ± 7.0	704.8 (inhaled) + 1200–1800	1200–1800	48 weeks	①⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨
Behr (2016) [19]	Europe (8 countries)	M,DB,RCT	Jun 2013—Feb 2015	60/62	66·7 ± 8.0/66·7 ± 6.2	1800 + 1602–2403	1602–2403 + placebo	24 weeks	①②③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨
Wen (2019) [22]	China	RCT	Nov 2012—Nov 2015	43/43	56.24 ± 10.2/55.63 ± 10.54	1800 + 1200	1200	6 month	①④⑥⑨
Zhou (2021) [23]	China	RCT	Jan 2018—Jan 2020	38/40	65.81 ± 8.76/66.45 ± 9.23	1800 + 600–1800	600–18	6 month	①⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨
Zhao (2023) [24]	China	RCT	Mar 2019—Mar 2022	21/21	64.3 ± 9.2/61.1 ± 8.8	600(inhaled) + 600–1800	600–1800	24 weeks	①③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨

CCT Case–control trial, CS Cohort study, RCT Randomized controlled trial, NAC N-acetylcysteine, PFD Pirfenidone, M Multicenter, DB Double-blind, CG Control group, TG Treatment group
① ΔFVC Changes in forced vital capacity
② ΔFVC% Changes in forced vital capacity percent predicted
③ Δ6MWT Changes in 6-min walking test distance
④ ΔDLco% Changes in percentage of predicted carbon monoxide diffusing capacity
⑤ At least one side effects
⑥ Severe side effects
⑦ Gastrointestinal effects
⑧ Skin side effects
⑨ Mortality rate

ISSN: 1471-2466