Acupuncture for Vascular Dementia: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.
In this trial, patients who agreed to random assignment were allocated to a randomized acupuncture group (R-acupuncture group) or control group. Those who declined randomization were assigned to a nonrandomized acupuncture group (NR-acupuncture group). Patients in the R-acupuncture group and NR-acupuncture group received up to 21 acupuncture sessions during a period of 6 weeks plus routine care, while the control group received routine care alone. Cognitive function, activities of daily living, and quality of life were assessed by mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL), and dementia quality of life questionnaire (DEMQOL), respectively. All the data were collected at baseline, after 6-week treatment, and after 4-week follow-up. No significant differences of MMSE scores were observed among the three groups but pooled-acupuncture group had significant higher score than control group. Compared to control group, ADL score significantly decreased in NR-acupuncture group and pooled-acupuncture group. For DEMQOL scores, no significant differences were observed among the three groups, as well as between pooled-acupuncture group and control group. Additional acupuncture to routine care may have beneficial effects on the improvements of cognitive status and activities of daily living but have limited efficacy on health-related quality of life in VaD patients.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China.
Guang-Xia
GX
Shi
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China.
Qian-Qian
QQ
Li
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute, The First Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 314 West Anshan Avenue, Tianjin 300193, China.
Bo-Feng
BF
Yang
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute, The First Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 314 West Anshan Avenue, Tianjin 300193, China.
Yan
Y
Liu
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute, The First Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 314 West Anshan Avenue, Tianjin 300193, China.
Li-Ping
LP
Guan
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute, The First Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 314 West Anshan Avenue, Tianjin 300193, China.
Meng-Meng
MM
Wu
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China.
Lin-Peng
LP
Wang
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China ; Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute, The First Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 314 West Anshan Avenue, Tianjin 300193, China.
Cun-Zhi
CZ
Liu
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome