Acupuncture for COPD
A study was conducted to evaluate the clinical effect of
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupoints (acu-TENS) on
patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is a prospective,
single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Settings/Locations:
Outpatient center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Fifty patients
with stable COPD enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to one
of two groups: the acu-TENS group (n=25), who underwent acu-TENS over acupoints
of bilateral EX-B-1(Dingchuan), BL-13 (Feishu), BL-23 (Shenshu), ST-36
(Zusanli), and the placebo acu-TENS control group (n=25), who had the same
electrode placement but no electrical output. Treatments were performed for 40-minute
sessions every 2 days for 4 weeks. Lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1
second, percentage predicted (FEV1% predicted); forced vital
capacity, percentage predicted (FVC% predicted), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD)
and oxygen saturation (SpO2), COPD assessment test (CAT), and
Dyspnea Visual Analogue Scale (DVAS) were assessed before and after the
intervention. Compared to control group, FEV1% predicted was
improved and CAT score was decreased significantly in the acu-TENS group after
treatment (p<0.05). The DVAS score decreased significantly in the acu-TENS
group (p=0.039), with a slight but insignificant improve in 6MWD, SpO2,
and FVC% predicted after treatment. Acu-TENS over acupoints of bilateral EX-B-1
(Dingchuan), BL-13 (Feishu), BL-23 (Shenshu), and ST-36 (Zusanli) improved FEV1%
predicted and reduced DVAS and CAT scores on patients with stable COPD. This
may be a novel treatment strategy in COPD.
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