title: Predictive value of subjective and objective evaluation before acupuncture treatment.
abstract: To evaluate if it is possible to predict the outcome of acupuncture treatment in patients with knee osteoarthrosis, six treatments were given during a 3 week period. Follow-up time was 9-17 weeks. Seven parameters were evaluated to examine if they had any influence on the outcome of treatment: Age, duration of disease, pain, range of knee movement, analgesic consumption, knee score (an objective and subjective evaluation of the knees) and x-ray changes. Twenty-nine patients were included with a total of 42 osteoarthritic knees waiting for a total knee replacement. The median age was 69.2 years, and median duration of disease was 4.2 years. 85% of the participants reported a subjective effect, and in 88% an objective effect was found. Although there were some significant differences when you looked at the 7 parameters above, the pattern was not a consistent one. Follow up results also indicated that those with the best immediate results, not necessarily were the ones with the best long-term effect. It is not possible to predict the outcome of acupuncture treatment of osteoarthritic knees. Immediate results are not a guide-line for long-term results, which indicate that acupuncture research must include a follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesiological department, Central Hospital, Nyk.F. Denmark.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Bülow
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilbek
authors.forename: I U
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Iuhl
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Dreijer
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index