Abstract
Background
Acupuncture has been used for chronic constipation, but evidence for its effectiveness remains scarce.
Objective
To determine the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) for chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC).
Design
Randomized, parallel, sham-controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01726504).
Setting
15 hospitals in China.
Participants
Patients with CSFC and no serious underlying pathologic cause for constipation.
Intervention
28 sessions of EA at traditional acupoints or sham EA (SA) at nonacupoints over 8 weeks.
Measurements
The primary outcome was the change from baseline in mean weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) during weeks 1 to 8. Participants were followed until week 20.
Results
1075 patients (536 and 539 in the EA and SA groups, respectively) were enrolled. The increase from baseline in mean weekly CSBMs during weeks 1 to 8 was 1.76 (95% CI, 1.61 to 1.89) in the EA group and 0.87 (CI, 0.73 to 0.97) in the SA group (between-group difference, 0.90 [CI, 0.74 to 1.10]; P < 0.001). The change from baseline in mean weekly CSBMs during weeks 9 to 20 was 1.96 (CI, 1.78 to 2.11) in the EA group and 0.89 (CI, 0.69 to 0.95) in the SA group (between-group difference, 1.09 [CI, 0.94 to 1.31]; P < 0.001). The proportion of patients having 3 or more mean weekly CSBMs in the EA group was 31.3% and 37.7% over the treatment and follow-up periods, respectively, compared with 12.1% and 14.1% in the SA group (P < 0.001). Acupuncture-related adverse events during treatment were infrequent in both groups, and all were mild or transient.
Limitations
Longer-term follow-up was not assessed. Acupuncturists could not be blinded.
Conclusion
Eight weeks of EA increases CSBMs and is safe for the treatment of CSFC. Additional study is warranted to evaluate a longer-term treatment and follow-up.
Published in: Ann Intern Med. 2016 Dec 6;165(11):761-769. doi: 10.7326/M15-3118. Epub 2016 Sep 13
Autor: Zhishun Liu, MD, PhD; Shiyan Yan, PhD; Jiani Wu, MD; Liyun He, MD, PhD; Ning Li, MD; Guirong Dong, MD; Jianqiao Fang, MD, PhD; Wenbin Fu, MD; Lixin Fu, MD, PhD; Jianhua Sun, MD, PhD; Linpeng Wang, MD; Shun Wang, MD; Jun Yang, MD; Hongxing Zhang, MD; Jianbin Zhang, MD, PhD; Jiping Zhao, MD; Wei Zhou, MD; Zhongyu Zhou, MD; Yanke Ai, PhD; Kehua Zhou, MD, DPT; Jia Liu, MD, PhD; Huanfang Xu, MD, PhD; Yuying Cai, MD, PhD; and Baoyan Liu, MD
Quelle: https://annals.org/aim/article-abstract/2552074/acupuncture-chronic-severe-functional-constipation-randomized-trial
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