Network meta-analysis on the effects of acupoint corresponding to meridian for asthma symptoms

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Wang MH1, Yeh ML2
1Doctoral Candidate, School of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan, 2Professor, Director, Graduate Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan

Background

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing. Currently, approximately 235 million people worldwide are asthmatic. Appropriate treatment and health management can relieve the symptoms of attack asthma. Acupoint corresponding to meridian has been promoted as a treatment for people with asthma. However, its efficacy remains controversial.

Objectives

This study was to determine the effects of acupoint corresponding to meridian on asthma symptom relief in people with asthma.

Methods

All searches in the Medline, PudMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and Chinese Electronic Periodical Service databases were conducted from journal inception to January 2016. The Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias was employed for a quality assessment. Two reviews were independently performed for the study selection, risk of bias assessment, data collection, and data extraction. Treatment effects were calculated using the Bayesian network meta-analysis in a random-effects model by using STATA software.

Results

This study examined 41 published studies and 4,724 participants identified from the databases. In the network meta-analysis, the ranking probability estimation showed a combination of meridians of bladder, stomach, and lung was ranked first for treating asthma according to the patient’s outcomes of symptom relief. Moreover, a combination of the bladder meridian, stomach meridian, conception vessel, and governor vessel were, compared with Chinese herbal medication, more effective for ameliorating asthma symptoms (odds ratio, 0.19; 95% CrI, 0.06–0.68).

Conclusions

This study conclude the acupoint corresponding to meridian as an intervention for asthma symptom relief. Acupoint corresponding to meridian involving the meridians of bladder, stomach, and lung should be given high priority. This information and knowledge could provide medical staff with more objective information and suggestions for treating people with asthma. Because of research limitations encountered in this study, the potentially promising findings should be applied to clinical practice cautiously.