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. 2023 Jul 3:19:1503-1513.
doi: 10.2147/NDT.S407162. eCollection 2023.

Scientific Evidence of Acupuncture for Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Qiongyang Zhou #  1 , Yue Ji #  2 , Yanzhu Lv  3 , Jing Xue  3 , Yuhui Wang  3 , Yin Huang  4
Affiliations

Scientific Evidence of Acupuncture for Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Qiongyang Zhou et al. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. .

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture may be effective to treat post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). We aimed to evaluate the reliability of the systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) evidence regarding acupuncture treatment of PSCI.

Methods: The methodological quality was appraised with Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2). We evaluated reporting quality with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and evidence quality with Grade of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

Results: The inclusion criteria were met by fifteen reviews. All studies assessed by AMSTAR-2 had critically poor methodological quality due to the limitations on the lack of the provision of the list of excluded trails, screening of duplicate study, and protocol registration. For reporting quality, response rate of "yes" was less than 50% in Q5 (protocol and registration topic), Q8 (Search) and Q23 (Additional analysis). Evidence quality of outcome measures was low or worse with GRADE because when the data was qualitatively synthesized, low quality and small sample size trials provided the data.

Conclusion: Acupuncture may be beneficial for PSCI. Because of limitations and inconsistent conclusions, further research is needed to provide higher evidence for acupuncture on PSCI.

Keywords: acupuncture; cognitive impairment; evidence; stroke; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Qiongyang Zhou and Yue Ji are the co-first authors. The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Literature selection procedure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Methodological quality summary.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Methodological quality graph.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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