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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Acupuncture | Research article

Acupuncture techniques for COPD: a systematic review

Authors: Carles Fernández-Jané, Jordi Vilaró, Yutong Fei, Congcong Wang, Jianping Liu, Na Huang, Ruyu Xia, Xia Tian, Ruixue Hu, Lingzi Wen, Mingkun Yu, Natàlia Gómara-Toldrà, Mireia Solà-Madurell, Mercè Sitjà-Rabert

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

This is the second part of a large spectrum systematic review which aims to identify and assess the evidence for the efficacy of non-pharmacological acupuncture techniques in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The results of all techniques except for filiform needle are described in this publication.

Methods

Eleven different databases were screened for randomised controlled trials up to June 2019. Authors in pairs extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias independently. RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis.

Results

Thirty-three trials met the inclusion criteria, which involved the follow techniques: AcuTENS (7 trials), moxibustion (11 trials), acupressure (7 trials), ear acupuncture (6 trials), acupressure and ear acupuncture combined (1 trial) and cupping (1 trial). Due to the great heterogeneity, only 7 meta-analysis could be performed (AcuTENS vs sham on quality of life and exercise capacity, acupressure vs no acupressure on quality of life and anxiety and ear acupuncture vs sham on FEV1 and FEV1/FVC) with only acupressure showing statistical differences for quality of life (SMD: -0.63 95%CI: − 0.88, − 0.39 I2 = 0%) and anxiety (HAM-A scale MD:-4.83 95%CI: − 5.71, − 3.94 I2 = 0%).

Conclusions

Overall, strong evidence in favour of any technique was not found. Acupressure could be beneficial for dyspnoea, quality of life and anxiety, but this is based on low quality trials.
Further large well-designed randomised control trials are needed to elucidate the possible role of acupuncture techniques in the treatment of COPD.

Trial registration

PROSPERO (identifier: CRD42014015074).
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Acupuncture techniques for COPD: a systematic review
Authors
Carles Fernández-Jané
Jordi Vilaró
Yutong Fei
Congcong Wang
Jianping Liu
Na Huang
Ruyu Xia
Xia Tian
Ruixue Hu
Lingzi Wen
Mingkun Yu
Natàlia Gómara-Toldrà
Mireia Solà-Madurell
Mercè Sitjà-Rabert
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3

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