[Meta-analysis on randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture for asthma].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for asthma by meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.


METHODS
A literature search in VIP, CNKI, PubMed and HighWire was performed to retrieve clinic trials documents about acupuncture for asthma from 2000 to 2009. The meta-analysis was conducted on RCT and CCT documents that meet the enrolling requirements.


RESULTS
Twenty-two trials including 3058 cases of asthma patients were included in this study. The findings indicates that the total effective rate in acupuncture group was significantly superior to control group [OR 4.18, 95% CI (3.36, 5.20), Z = 12.85, P < 0.00001]; there was no significant difference in FEV1 measurements between two groups [OR = 0.20, 95% CI (-0.37, 0.76), Z = 0.68, P = 0.50]; there was profound significant difference in PEFR measurements between two groups [OR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.22, 0.62), Z = 4.06, P < 0.0001]; there was profound significant difference in FVC measurements between two groups [OR = 0.45, 95% CI (0.17, 0.72), Z = 3.22, P = 0. 001]; there was profound significant difference in FEV1/FVC measurements between two groups [OR = 9.58, 95% CI (8.14, 11.02), Z = 13.03, P < 0.00001].


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy can significantly improve the total effective rate of acupuncture for asthma. PEFR, FVC, FEV1 /FVC can be used as effectiveness indicators for evaluating the treatment for asthma. The FEV1 measurements did not have statistic significance. Due to the small number of RCT/CCT documents, the bias of the literatures and the lack of high-quality, large sample and multi-center reports, further studies are needed to explore the evidence of the findings.
Yu
Lu
L
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Changchun University of TCM, Changchun 130117, China. 86216128@163.com
Zhang
Yan
Y
Chen
Cheng
C
Cui
Hai-Fu
HF
Yan
Xing-Ke
XK
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009071:Moxibustion; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome