[Effect of acupuncture on quality of life, mouth occlusion pressures and lung function in COPD].
BACKGROUND
There are few data concerning the effect of acupuncture in patients suffering from COPD. We conducted a prospective randomized and placebo-controlled pilot study to analyze the effect of acupuncture according to the rules of traditional chinese medicine on quality of life, pulmonary function testing and inspiratory mouth occlusion pressures (MOP).


METHODS
We randomised 10 patients with stable COPD to a 2-week treatment of 7 verum acupuncture or placebo acupuncture sessions. Before and after treatment we performed pulmonary function tests as well as an interview with the chronic respiratory disease questionnaire. MOP were taken on day 1, 5 and 7 before and after punction to assess function of the respiratory pump.


RESULTS
Patients receiving verum acupuncture improved significantly with FEV1 and RV/TLC. There was an improvement of large magnitude in quality of life and a trend of lower demand of the respiratory pump. In the placebo group we saw only a slight improvement of quality of life, a deterioration of lung function parameters and a trend of higher demand of the respiratory pump.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the small number of subjects allows no further conclusions this pilot study proves feasibility of acupuncture in COPD and shows that acupuncture is worthy for further investigation in patients suffering from COPD.
Neumeister
W
W
Abteilung für Pneumologie, Allergologie und Schlafmedizin, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Kliniken Bergmannsheil-Universitätsklinik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Kuhlemann
H
H
Bauer
T
T
Krause
S
S
Schultze-Werninghaus
G
G
Rasche
K
K
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
Einfluss der Akupunktur auf Lebensqualität, inspiratorische Mundverschlussdrücke und Standard-lungenfunktion bei chronisch obstruktiven Atemwegserkrankungen (COPD).