Heat-sensitive moxibustion assisted in palliative treatment to improve the quality of life in elderly patients with malignant tumor: a randomized controlled trial.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240403-k0002
- Author:
Ting YU
1
;
Huawei LIU
2
;
Zuqin LIU
3
;
Rixin CHEN
4
;
Dingyi XIE
5
Author Information
1. Department of TCM, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
2. First Department of Internal Medicine, Bo'xing County Hospital of TCM.
3. Department of Moxibustion, Bo'xing County Hospital of TCM; 4College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Jiangxi University of CM; 5Administration Office of Heat-Sensitive Moxibustion, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of CM, Nanchang
4. College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Jiangxi University of CM.
5. Administration Office of Heat-Sensitive Moxibustion, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of CM, Nanchang
- Publication Type:English Abstract
- Keywords:
heat-sensitive moxibustion;
immunologic function;
malignant tumor, elderly;
palliative treatment;
quality of life
- MeSH:
Humans;
Moxibustion;
Male;
Female;
Aged;
Quality of Life;
Neoplasms/psychology*;
Palliative Care;
Aged, 80 and over;
Middle Aged;
Acupuncture Points
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2025;45(2):167-172
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion on the quality of life in the elderly patients with malignant tumor based on palliative treatment.
METHODS:A total of 100 elderly patients with malignant tumor were randomly divided into an observation group (50 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a control group (50 cases, 4 cases dropped out). The conventional palliative treatment was performed in the control group. On the basis of conventional palliative treatment, heat-sensitive moxibustion was added at Shenque (CV8) and Zhongwan (CV12) in the observation group, once a day, 5 times a week, one course of treatment was composed of 2 weeks, and 2 consecutive courses of treatment were given. In the observation group, 15 patients voluntarily continued heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment, which was collected in the sub-observation group No.1, these patients were treated 3 times a week and for 6 months consecutively. Using the propensity score matching method, 15 patients who only completed 2 courses of treatment were assigned into the sub-observation group No.2. Before and after treatment, the scores of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and the anorexia/cachexia subscale-12 (A/CS-12), as well as the immune indexes (the contents of serum immune globulin [Ig]G, IgA, IgM and complements C3 and C4) were observed in the patients of the observation group and the control group. The monthly survivals were recorded in the two sub-observation groups after 6 months of treatment completion. The coordination was analyzed on the score of deqi scale of heat-sensitive moxibustion at the probing stage before treatment and the change in the score of EORTC QLQ-C30 before and after treatment in the patients of the observation group.
RESULTS:After treatment, except the score related to the financial difficulties, the score of every items in EORTC QLQ-C30 was greater than that before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05); the scores for overall health, nausea/vomiting, pain, short breath, constipation and diarrhea of the scale were higher than those before treatment in the control group (P<0.05). The score for each item of the scale in the observation group was higher when compared with that in the control group, except the score for financial difficulties (P<0.05). After treatment, KPS score increased in the observation group when compared with that before treatment (P<0.05), and the score was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, A/CS-12 score was elevated in comparison with that before treatment in each group (P<0.05), and the score in the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, in the observation group, the contents of serum IgG, IgA and IgM, and C3 and C4 increased in comparison with those before treatment (P<0.05); and in the control group, the contents of serum IgG, C3 and C4 were declined (P<0.05). After treatment, the contents of serum IgG, IgA and IgM, and C3 and C4 in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After 6 months of treatment completion, the survival rate in the sub-observation group No.1 was higher than that of the sub-observation group No.2 (P<0.05). In the observation group, the positive coordination was presented between the score of deqi scale of heat-sensitive moxibustion and the change in the score of EORTC QLQ-C30 in the observation group (r>0, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION:On the basis of palliative treatment, heat-sensitive moxibustion can improve the quality of life, appetite and the immunity of the elderly patients with malignant tumor. Consecutive long-term moxibustion is contributed to prolonging the life span. The stronger deqi is felt during moxibustion delivery, the more significant the therapeutic effect is obtained.
