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Review
. 2025 Feb 10:23.
doi: 10.18332/tid/200550. eCollection 2025.

The effectiveness and safety of auricular acupoint-related therapy for nicotine dependence: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Qindong Mi  1 , Xiaolong Zhao  2 , Zhijun Zhang  3 , Fei Bao  1
Affiliations
Review

The effectiveness and safety of auricular acupoint-related therapy for nicotine dependence: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Qindong Mi et al. Tob Induc Dis. .

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture-related therapies (AARTs) in managing nicotine dependence (ND).

Methods: We searched eight databases from their inception through December 2024 and screened randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating AART for ND. The primary outcome was the ND cessation rate. We assessed study quality using the ROB-2 tool and applied the GRADE approach to determine the certainty or quality of of evidence.

Results: Nine RCTs involving 1032 patients were analyzed. Meta-analysis results indicate that AART significantly reduces the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale score (MNWS) in ND patients compared to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (mean difference, MD=1.47; 95% CI: 0.06-2.88, p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in ND point cessation rate, Fagerström test for nicotine dependence score (FTND), Hamilton Anxiety Scale score (HAMA), daily smoking volume, or exhaled CO levels between AART and NRT. Notably, AART was associated with a lower incidence of adverse events compared to NRT (relative risk, RR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.04-0.56, p<0.01). There were also no significant differences in the ND point cessation rate between auricular-plaster therapy (APT), body acupuncture (BA), and the combination of APT and BA.

Conclusions: AART is effective in improving ND, showing greater efficacy in reducing MNWS and enhanced safety compared to NRT. Given the limited number of studies, the optimal AART regimen remains undetermined. Further research is needed to confirm and refine these findings.

Keywords: acupoint-related therapy; meta-analysis; nicotine dependence; randomized controlled trial; systematic review; tobacco dependence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. All authors report that since the initial planning of the work they received support by the Peking Union Medical College Hospital Sedimentation Research Funding Integration Entrustment Project (No. ZC201903189).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of study selection
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias summary of updated meta-analysis about AARTs for ND
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of AART versus NRT for ND patients point cessation rate
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of AART versus NRT for ND patients FTND score
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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