Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Prospective, Single-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Liu, X.

Fan, T.

Lan, Y.

Dong, S.

Fu, J.

Mao, B.

Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine

2015

21(10)

610-616

RCT

RCT (1265)

Dyspnea

COPD

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (4)

Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory Tract Diseases (65)

Acupuncture

Electroacupuncture

TENS (52)

Placebo

Acu Versus Sham

Sham Electroacupuncture (27)

TCM Acupunture Style

Fixed Acupuncture Protocol

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupoints (acu-TENS) on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design: Prospective, single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Settings/Locations: Outpatient center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Patients: Fifty patients with stable COPD enrolled in the study. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the acu-TENS group ( n=25), who underwent acu-TENS over acupoints of bilateral EX-B-1( Dingchuan), BL-13 ( Feishu), BL-23 ( Shenshu), ST-36 ( Zusanli), and the placebo acu-TENS control group ( n=25), who had the same electrode placement but no electrical output. Treatments were performed for 40-minute sessions every 2 days for 4 weeks. Outcome measures: Lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, percentage predicted (FEV1% predicted); forced vital capacity, percentage predicted (FVC% predicted), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and oxygen saturation (SpO2), COPD assessment test (CAT), and Dyspnea Visual Analogue Scale (DVAS) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Compared to control group, FEV1% predicted was improved and CAT score was decreased significantly in the acu-TENS group after treatment ( p<0.05). The DVAS score decreased significantly in the acu-TENS group ( p=0.039), with a slight but insignificant improve in 6MWD, SpO2, and FVC% predicted after treatment. Conclusions: Acu-TENS over acupoints of bilateral EX-B-1 ( Dingchuan), BL-13 ( Feishu), BL-23 ( Shenshu), and ST-36 ( Zusanli) improved FEV1% predicted and reduced DVAS and CAT scores on patients with stable COPD. This may be a novel treatment strategy in COPD.

Accession Number: 110221560; Source Information: Oct2015, Vol. 21 Issue 10, p610; Subject Term: DYSPNEA -- Diagnosis; Subject Term: OBSTRUCTIVE lung diseases -- Treatment; Subject Term: WALKING -- Evaluation; Subject Term: ACTIVE oxygen in the body; Subject Term: ACUPUNCTURE points; Subject Term: ALTERNATIVE medicine; Subject Term: LONGITUDINAL method; Subject Term: PROBABILITY theory; Subject Term: RESEARCH -- Finance; Subject Term: RESPIRATORY measurements; Subject Term: RESPIRATORY function tests; Subject Term: SAMPLING (Statistics); Subject Term: STATISTICAL hypothesis testing; Subject Term: T-test (Statistics); Subject Term: TRANSCUTANEOUS electrical nerve stimulation; Subject Term: STATISTICAL power analysis; Subject Term: STATISTICAL significance; Subject Term: BODY mass index; Subject Term: RANDOMIZED controlled trials; Subject Term: VISUAL analog scale; Subject Term: TREATMENT effectiveness; Subject Term: PRE-tests & post-tests; Subject Term: VITAL capacity (Respiration); Subject Term: BLIND experiment; Subject Term: DATA analysis -- Software; Subject Term: DESCRIPTIVE statistics; Subject Term: ; Geographic Subject: CHINA; Geographic Subject: ; Number of Pages: 7p; ; Illustrations: 1 Diagram, 2 Charts, 1 Graph; ; Document Type: Article;

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