Meta-Analysis on Acupuncture

 Meta-Analysis on Acupuncture

Changzhen Gong, Ph.D.

Meta-analysis is a method, using statistical techniques, which combines results from different clinical studies to obtain a quantitative estimate of the overall effect of a specific intervention. It is a statistical process for pooling data from many clinical trials to obtain a clear overview of results. By statistically combining the results of similar studies, meta-analysis can improve the precision of the estimates of treatment effect, assess whether treatment effects are similar in similar situations, and produce a firmer conclusion than individual clinical studies can provide.

In the field of evidence-based medicine, the meta-analysis method is at the very top of the medical-evidence hierarchy, followed by systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials, clinical trials, pilot studies, cohort studies, case-controls, case series, case reports, and expert opinions. As clinical trials of acupuncture as a treatment modality have steadily increased, the number of meta-analyses concerning acupuncture studies have also reached record highs. Here is a list of significant meta-analysis studies in 2013:

·         Cheong KB, Zhang JP, Huang Y, Zhang ZJ. The effectiveness of acupuncture in prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting - a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 13;8(12):e82474.

·         Zeng Y, Luo T, Finnegan-John J, Cheng AS. Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Acupuncture for Cancer-Related Fatigue. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Nov 25.

·         Yang M, Li X, Liu S, Li Z, Xue M, Gao D, Li X, Yang S. Meta-analysis of acupuncture for relieving non-organic dyspeptic symptoms suggestive of diabetic gastroparesis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Nov 9;13(1):311.

·         Ji J, Lu Y, Liu H, Feng H, Zhang F, Wu L, Cui Y, Wu H. Acupuncture and moxibustion for inflammatory bowel diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:158352.

·         Zhang QH, Yue JH, Liu M, Sun ZR, Sun Q, Han C, Wang D. Moxibustion for the Correction of Nonvertex Presentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:241027.

·         Macpherson H, Maschino AC, Lewith G, Foster NE, Witt C, Vickers AJ; Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration. Characteristics of acupuncture treatment associated with outcome: an individual patient meta-analysis of 17,922 patients with chronic pain in randomised controlled trials. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 11;8(10):e77438.

·         Prady SL, Burch J, Crouch S, Macpherson H. Problems caused by heterogeneity in meta-analysis: a case study of acupuncture trials. Acupunct Med. 2013 Oct 18.

·         Park JW, Lee BH, Lee H. Moxibustion in the management of irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Oct 2;13:247.

·         Kim KH, Kim TH, Lee BR, Kim JK, Son DW, Lee SW, Yang GY. Acupuncture for lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2013 Oct;21(5):535-56.

·         Lam M, Galvin R, Curry P. Effectiveness of acupuncture for nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Nov 15;38(24):2124-38.

·         Corbett MS, Rice SJ, Madurasinghe V, Slack R, Fayter DA, Harden M, Sutton AJ, Macpherson H, Woolacott NF. Acupuncture and other physical treatments for the relief of pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee: network meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013 Sep;21(9):1290-8.

·         Manheimer E, van der Windt D, Cheng K, Stafford K, Liu J, Tierney J, Lao L, Berman BM, Langenberg P, Bouter LM. The effects of acupuncture on rates of clinical pregnancy among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2013 Nov-Dec;19(6):696-713.

·         He XR, Wang Q, Li PP. Acupuncture and moxibustion for cancer-related fatigue: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013;14(5):3067-74.

·         Yan X, Zhu T, Ma C, Liu A, Dong L, Wang J. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for amblyopia. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:648054.

·         Dai Y, Liu M, Zhang Y, Wei S, Huang H. Meta analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of optic atrophy. Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2013 Mar;38(3):283-90.

·         Chen MN, Chien LW, Liu CF. Acupuncture or Acupressure at the Sanyinjiao (SP6) Acupoint for the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:493038.

·         Park J, Hahn S, Park JY, Park HJ, Lee H. Acupuncture for ankle sprain: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Mar 4;13:55.

·         Heo I, Shin BC, Kim YD, Hwang EH, Han CW, Heo KH. Acupuncture for spinal cord injury and its complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:364216.

·         Lee WB, Woo SH, Min BI, Cho SH. Acupuncture for gouty arthritis: a concise report of a systematic and meta-analysis approach. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2013 Jul;52(7):1225-32.

·         Chae Y, Chang DS, Lee SH, Jung WM, Lee IS, Jackson S, Kong J, Lee H, Park HJ, Lee H, Wallraven C. Inserting needles into the body: a meta-analysis of brain activity associated with acupuncture needle stimulation. J Pain. 2013 Mar;14(3):215-22.