Acupuncture in the prophylaxis of recurrent lower urinary tract infection in adult women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of acupuncture in the prevention of recurrent lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in adult women.


METHODS
A controlled clinical trial with three arms: an acupuncture group, a sham-acupuncture group, and an untreated control group. Patients were followed for 6 months.


METHODS
An acupuncture clinic in Bergen, Norway.


METHODS
Sixty-seven adult women with a history of recurrent lower UTI.


METHODS
Acute lower UTIs during the 6-month observation period.


RESULTS
Eighty-five percent were free of lower UTI during the 6-month observation period in the acupuncture group, compared with 58% in the sham group (p < 0.05), and 36% in the control group (p < 0.01). There were half as many episodes of lower UTI per person-half-year in the acupuncture group as in the sham group, and a third as many as in the control group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture seems a worthwhile alternative in the prevention of recurring lower UTI in women.
Aune
A
A
Bryggen Medisinske Senter, University of Bergen, Norway.
Alraek
T
T
LiHua
H
H
Baerheim
A
A
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*