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Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Jul;20(7):535-44.
doi: 10.1089/acm.2013.0364. Epub 2014 Jun 10.

A meta-analysis of acupuncture use in the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke

Fang Liu  1 , Zhuang-Miao Li, Yi-Jing Jiang, Li-Dian Chen
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis of acupuncture use in the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke

Fang Liu et al. J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on cognitive impairment (function) after a stroke.

Design: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture with no acupuncture in addition to medicine or rehabilitation were identified from databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Periodical Database, Wangfang Chinese Periodical Database, Chinese Bio-medicine Database, Cochrane Library, and Chinese medical literature databases) and two relevant journals (Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion and the Journal of Shanghai Acupuncture and Moxibustion). Meta-analyses were conducted for the eligible RCTs.

Results: Twenty-one trials with a total of 1421 patients met inclusion criteria. Pooled random-effects estimates of the change in the Mini-Mental State Examination were calculated for the comparison of acupuncture with no acupuncture in addition to medicine or rehabilitation. Following 4 weeks and 8 weeks of intervention with acupuncture, the merged mean difference was 3.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.06-4.21; p<.00001) and 2.03 (95% CI, 0.26-3.80; p=0.02), respectively. For the comparison of 3-4 weeks of acupuncture with no acupuncture in addition to medicine or rehabilitation groups, the merged MD in Neurobehavioral Cognitive State Examination total scores was 5.63 (95% CI, 3.95-7.31; p<.00001). For the comparison of 8-12 weeks of acupuncture with no acupuncture in addition to medicine or rehabilitation groups, the P300 latency merged MD was -12.80 (95% CI, -21.08 to -4.51; p<.00001), while the P300 amplitude merged MD was 1.38 (95% CI, 0.93-1.82; p<.00001). Overall, the study quality was rated as moderate on the basis of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (part 2: 8.5).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that acupuncture had positive effects on cognitive function after stroke and supports the need for additional research on the potential benefits of this therapeutic approach.

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Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Study flow diagram of selection of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs).
<b>FIG. 2.</b>
FIG. 2.
Mini-Mental State Examination total scores after 4 weeks of treatment. CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation.
<b>FIG. 3.</b>
FIG. 3.
Mini-Mental State Examination total scores after 8 weeks of treatment.
<b>FIG. 4.</b>
FIG. 4.
Neurobehavioral Cognitive State Examination total scores after 3–4 weeks of treatment.
<b>FIG. 5.</b>
FIG. 5.
P300 latency after 8–12 weeks of treatment.
<b>FIG. 6.</b>
FIG. 6.
P300 amplitude after 8–12 weeks of treatment. CI=confidence interval; SD=standard deviation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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