Effect of disease duration on the efficacy of acupuncture for discogenic sciatica:a secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial
10.3969/j.issn.1006-2157.2025.08.016
- VernacularTitle:病程对针刺治疗椎间盘源性坐骨神经痛疗效的影响:一项多中心随机对照试验的二次分析
- Author:
Binyan LI
1
;
Jianfeng TU
1
;
Zitong FU
1
;
Cunzhi LIU
1
Author Information
1. 北京中医药大学针灸推拿学院 北京 100029;北京中医药大学国际针灸创新研究院
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
sciatica;
disease duration;
acupuncture;
randomized controlled trial;
secondary analysis
- From:
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;48(8):1158-1166
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate whether the efficacy of acupuncture differs in patients with discogenic sciatica at different disease duration.Methods This study was a secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.A total of 216 patients with discogenic sciatica were divided into acupuncture(108 cases)and sham acupuncture groups(108 cases)using stratified block randomization.The bilateral D(a)ch(a)ngshū(BL25)and Gu(a)nyuánshū(BL26)were used as obligatory points in the acupuncture group,and five unilateral points were used as adjunct acupoints based on meridian syndrome differentiation theory.Seven non-acupoints that localized away from the relative meridians preset for sham acupuncture treatment were used for the sham acupuncture group.Patients were assigned to receive 10 sessions over 4 weeks.The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)scores were used for assessment at baseline,Week 4,and Week 52.Patients were divided into three subgroups(up to 24 months,more than 24 but up to 48 months,and more than 48 months)based on the duration of sciatica for secondary analyses,and the association between efficacy of acupuncture and duration was assessed.Results The acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups had lower VAS and ODI scores than at pre-treatment(P<0.05).In the subgroups with different disease durations,the acupuncture group had lower VAS and ODI scores than the sham acupuncture group(P<0.05).Further analysis of patients at different disease durations within the acupuncture group showed no differences in VAS and ODI scores among disease duration groups after acupuncture(P>0.05).Interaction analysis for both the treatment and follow-up periods showed no interaction effect between efficacy of acupuncture and disease duration(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture is effective in patients with discogenic sciatica at different durations,and efficacy does not differ significantly according to duration,suggesting that acupuncture efficacy is relatively stable,which may provide a reference for clinical decision-making.
