Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background In this study, we attempted to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis (AR), and to test the robustness of the estimated effects. Methods The Cochrane methodology standard was followed to conduct this systematic review. Randomized controlled trials (RC...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Medical Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-022-00682-3 |
| _version_ | 1818263905906982912 |
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| author | Min He Weishan Qin Zongshi Qin Changqing Zhao |
| author_facet | Min He Weishan Qin Zongshi Qin Changqing Zhao |
| author_sort | Min He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In this study, we attempted to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis (AR), and to test the robustness of the estimated effects. Methods The Cochrane methodology standard was followed to conduct this systematic review. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture with other therapies for AR were included. Furthermore, trial sequential analysis was conducted to test the robustness of pooled results. Thirty trials with 4413 participants were included. Results Acupuncture improved the nasal symptoms on Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and quality of life measured by Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) in adults with AR, compared to acupuncture with no intervention. Acupuncture was also shown to be more effective than sham acupuncture for nasal symptom (RQLQ subscale, n = 489, MD − 0.60, 95% CI − 1.16 to − 0.04) and quality of life (RQLQ, n = 248, − 8.47 95% CI − 14.91, − 2.03). No clear difference was observed between acupuncture and cetirizine or loratadine. Interestingly, trial sequential analysis (TSA) failed to confirm the aforementioned results. The effect of acupuncture for children/adolescents with AR remains unclear due to insufficient data. The performance bias and attrition bias are serious in most studies that were included. Selection bias may also have affected the quality of the evidence. Conclusion Acupuncture may have an advantage over no intervention and sham acupuncture in improving nasal symptoms and quality of life for adults with AR. The effect of acupuncture and cetirizine or loratadine for AR may be similar. Additional trials are necessary to confirm these results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:26:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f7f6da3281f436e937a95263075d97b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-783X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:26:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f7f6da3281f436e937a95263075d97b2022-12-22T00:14:31ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2022-04-0127111610.1186/s40001-022-00682-3Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysisMin He0Weishan Qin1Zongshi Qin2Changqing Zhao3Department of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Medical University Second Affiliated HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Medical University Second Affiliated HospitalDepartment of Acupuncture and Neurology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesDepartment of Otolaryngology, Shanxi Medical University Second Affiliated HospitalAbstract Background In this study, we attempted to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis (AR), and to test the robustness of the estimated effects. Methods The Cochrane methodology standard was followed to conduct this systematic review. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture with other therapies for AR were included. Furthermore, trial sequential analysis was conducted to test the robustness of pooled results. Thirty trials with 4413 participants were included. Results Acupuncture improved the nasal symptoms on Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and quality of life measured by Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) in adults with AR, compared to acupuncture with no intervention. Acupuncture was also shown to be more effective than sham acupuncture for nasal symptom (RQLQ subscale, n = 489, MD − 0.60, 95% CI − 1.16 to − 0.04) and quality of life (RQLQ, n = 248, − 8.47 95% CI − 14.91, − 2.03). No clear difference was observed between acupuncture and cetirizine or loratadine. Interestingly, trial sequential analysis (TSA) failed to confirm the aforementioned results. The effect of acupuncture for children/adolescents with AR remains unclear due to insufficient data. The performance bias and attrition bias are serious in most studies that were included. Selection bias may also have affected the quality of the evidence. Conclusion Acupuncture may have an advantage over no intervention and sham acupuncture in improving nasal symptoms and quality of life for adults with AR. The effect of acupuncture and cetirizine or loratadine for AR may be similar. Additional trials are necessary to confirm these results.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-022-00682-3AcupunctureAllergic rhinitisMeta-analysisRandomized controlled trials |
| spellingShingle | Min He Weishan Qin Zongshi Qin Changqing Zhao Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis European Journal of Medical Research Acupuncture Allergic rhinitis Meta-analysis Randomized controlled trials |
| title | Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | acupuncture for allergic rhinitis a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Acupuncture Allergic rhinitis Meta-analysis Randomized controlled trials |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-022-00682-3 |
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