Evidence mapPaperPMID 39174985Full record

Trial reportBMC complementary medicine and therapies2024

Efficacy of acupuncture in patients with carotid atherosclerosis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Xichang Huang, Lingcui Meng, Lin Zhao, Shuang Yang, Danhui Lai, Jianxing Zhang, Xiaoxi Wu, Yanhui Jiang, Junhe Zhou, Peng Zhou and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Xichang HuangSecond Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Lingcui MengDepartment of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Lin ZhaoSecond Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Shuang YangDepartment of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Danhui LaiDepartment of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Jianxing ZhangDepartment of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Xiaoxi WuSecond Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Yanhui JiangSecond Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Junhe ZhouDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
Peng Zhou *Shenzhen Ban'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Group, Shenzhen, 518133, China. 77103698@qq.com.
Wenbin Fu *Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China. fuwenbin@139.com.

Funding

Double First Class and High-level University Discipline Collaborative Innovation Team Project of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine 2021xk22Fu Wenbin, Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine Guangdong Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Studio Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine Office Letter [2020] No. 1Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province 2020B1111100007Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen SZSM201806077Scientific Research Project of Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine 20201137Shenzhen Bao'an Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion BAZJ2018239Situ Ling studio of Lingnan acupuncture school Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine [2013] No. 233
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe current clinical management of carotid atherosclerosis is based on the control of risk factors and medicine. However, the risk of adverse events associated with the medicine resulting in concerns and low medication compliance makes it necessary to seek a safer alternative therapy. This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for carotid atherosclerosis.

methodsIn this randomized controlled trial, patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were included and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive real acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 12 weeks. The follow-up period was 12 weeks. The primary outcome included carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), plaque score (PS), plaque volume (PV) and grey-scale median (GSM). Secondary outcome was pulse wave velocity (PWV). Adverse events results were recorded as safety outcomes.

resultsFrom January 2021 to February 2022, 60 eligible patients were included. 55 patients (91.7%) completed the intervention and the 12-week follow-up and there was no statistical difference in demographics between the groups. At the end of treatment, the real acupuncture group had significantly reduced PS (P = 0.002), PV (P = 0.000), and improved GSM (P = 0.044). There was no significant difference in the reduction in cIMT (Left cIMT: P = 0.338, Right cIMT: P = 0.204) and PWV between the groups (the left BS: P = 0.429; the left ES: P = 0.701; the right BS: P = 0.211; the right ES: P = 0.083). Three mild adverse reactions occurred during the study.

conclusionThis study found that acupuncture had a certain effect on reducing the thickness and volume of carotid plaque and improving the stability of plaque with minor side effects. These findings suggest that acupuncture may be a potential alternative therapy for carotid atherosclerosis.

trial registrationThis trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ChiCTR2100041762). Submitted 30 December 2020, Registered 4 January 2021 Prospectively registered.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyCarotid Artery DiseasesCarotid Intima-Media ThicknessAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPulse Wave AnalysisTreatment OutcomeAcupunctureCarotid atherosclerosisCarotid plaquesPlaque regressionRandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID39174985
PMCPMC11340065

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.