title: Is Acupuncture Effective for Hypertension? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of acupuncture for hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven electronic databases were searched on April 13, 2014 to include eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data were extracted and risk of bias was assessed. Subgroup analyses and meta- analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  23 RCTs involving 1788 patients were included. Most trials had an unclear risk of bias regarding allocation concealment, blinding, incomplete outcome data and selective reporting. Compared with sham acupuncture plus medication, a meta-analysis of 2 trials revealed that acupuncture as an adjunct to medication was more effective on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure change magnitude (n=170, SBP: mean difference (MD)= -7.47,95% confidence intervals (CI):-10.43 to -4.51,I2 =0%; DBP: -4.22,-6.26 to -2.18, 0%).A subgroup analysis of 4 trials also showed acupuncture combined with medication was superior to medication on efficacy rate (n=230, odds ratio (OR)=4.19, 95%CI: 1.65 to 10.67, I2 =0%). By contrast, compared with medication, acupuncture alone showed no significant effect on SBP /DBP after intervention and efficacy rate in the subgroup analysis. (7 trials with 510 patients, SBP: MD=-0.56, 95%CI:-3.02 to 1.89,I2 =60%; DBP: -1.01,-2.26 to 0.24, 23%; efficacy rate: 10 trials with 963 patients, OR=1.14, 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.85, I2 =54%).Adverse events were inadequately reported in most RCTs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our review provided evidence of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to medication for treating hypertension, while the evidence for acupuncture alone lowing BP is insufficient. The safety of acupuncture is uncertain due to the inadequate reporting of it. However, the current evidence might not be sufficiently robust against methodological flaws and significant heterogeneity of the included RCTs. Larger high-quality trials are required.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Acupuncture of Tianjin, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Han-Tong
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Shen
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Cai
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Zhen
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Fei
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Acupuncture of Tianjin, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents