Dose-effect relationship between the number of acupuncture sessions and efficacy for cervical vertigo: a Meta-regression analysis based on randomized controlled trials.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240711-0002
- Author:
Yixuan ZHANG
1
;
Rui YANG
1
;
Chunchang ZHANG
1
;
Lin HAN
2
Author Information
1. First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin 300381, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381; Graduate School of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin
2. First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin 300381, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin
- Publication Type:English Abstract
- Keywords:
Meta-regression analysis;
acupuncture;
cervical vertigo (CV);
dose-effect relationship;
treatment sessions
- MeSH:
Humans;
Acupuncture Therapy;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic;
Vertigo/physiopathology*;
Treatment Outcome;
Acupuncture Points;
Regression Analysis;
Male;
Female
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2025;45(8):1180-1186
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To explore the dose-effect relationship between the number of acupuncture sessions and the efficacy for cervical vertigo (CV).
METHODS:Literature regarding randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for CV was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Web of Science, and PubMed databases from inception to June 28th, 2024. Studies were included if patients were treated solely with acupuncture and the core prescription included Baihui (GV20)-Fengchi (GB20)-neck-jiaji (EX-B2). Outcomes included the evaluation scale for cervical vertigo symptoms and function (ESCV) score and the mean blood flow velocity of vertebrobasilar arteries. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool 2.0 was used to evaluate study quality. Dose-effect Meta-regression analysis was performed using the robust-error Meta-regression (REMR) method in Stata 17.0 software.
RESULTS:Nineteen RCTs were included with a total of 747 patients in the experimental groups. After 10 sessions of acupuncture, the ESCV score increased to 20.29 (95% CI: 16.77, 23.80), with a pre-post ESCV difference of 4.60 (95% CI: 2.59, 6.60) and an improvement rate of 0.36 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.46). After 20 sessions of acupuncture, the ESCV score increased to 21.55 (95% CI: 18.87, 24.22), with a difference of 5.42 (95% CI: 3.87, 6.97) and an improvement rate of 0.39 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.48). After 10 sessions of acupuncture, the improvement rates for left vertebral artery (LVA), right vertebral artery (RVA), and basilar artery (BA) mean blood flow velocities were 0.08 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.12), 0.09 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.12), and 0.11 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.15), respectively. After 14 sessions of acupuncture, the improvement rates reached their peaks: LVA [0.09 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.12)], RVA [0.10 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.13)], and BA [0.12 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.16)].
CONCLUSION:A nonlinear dose-effect relationship existed between the number of acupuncture sessions and the efficacy for CV. Fourteen sessions were recommended as the optimal number of acupuncture treatments.
