Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28611366›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2017

Safety of Acupuncture: Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Malcolm W C Chan, Xin Yin Wu, Justin C Y Wu, Samuel Y S Wong, Vincent C H Chung

3 registry-linked trialsAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 68 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
68citing papers in PubMed, 12 pooled it
–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.

NCT03850717 completednot on this map

Retrospective Study on Safety of Acupuncture Treatments for Chronic Low Back Pain in 65 Years and Older in an Acupuncture Clinic From 2013 to 2018.

TypeobservationalSponsorMcLean Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, PLCRan2013 to 2019Enrolled500ConditionsChronic Low Back Pain, Older AdultsArmsacupuncture
NCT05232487 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Comparison of Swiss Versus Standard Low Back Acupuncture in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain. A Randomized, Controlled, Single-blind, Monocentric Clinical Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorLi YimingRan2023 to 2025Enrolled116ConditionsChronic Low-back PainArmsSwiss low back acupuncture (SLBA), Standard acupuncture (SA)
NCT07178756 naactive not recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Acupuncture for the postoperative recovery of hip fracture patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorKhoo Teck Puat HospitalRan2021 to 2025Enrolled90ConditionsHip Fracture Surgeries, Post-operative Hip Fractures RecoveryArmsAcupuncture, Post-operative standard care
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

68 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  13. Article
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  15. Acupuncture Safety in Taiwan.Medical acupuncture · 2025
    Article
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8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

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

5 authors.

Malcolm W C ChanHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Xin Yin WuHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3772-2376
Justin C Y WuHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Samuel Y S WongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Vincent C H ChungHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. vchung@cuhk.edu.hk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Acupuncture is increasingly used worldwide. It is becoming more accepted by both patients and healthcare providers. However, the current understanding of its adverse events (AEs) is fragmented. We conducted this overview to collect all systematic reviews (SRs) on the AEs of acupuncture and related therapies. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from inception to December 2015. Methodological quality of included reviews was assessed with a validated instrument. Evidence was narratively reported. Seventeen SRs covering various types of acupuncture were included. Methodological quality of the reviews was overall mediocre. Four major categories of AEs were identified, which are organ or tissue injuries (13 reviews, median: 36 cases, median deaths: 4), infections (11 reviews, median: 17 cases, median deaths: 0.5), local AEs or reactions (12 reviews, median: 8.5 cases, no deaths were reported), and other complications such as dizziness or syncope (11 reviews, median: 21 cases, no deaths were reported). Minor and serious AEs can occur during the use of acupuncture and related modalities, contrary to the common impression that acupuncture is harmless. Serious AEs are rare, but need significant attention as mortality can be associated with them. Referrals should consider acupuncturists' training credibility, and patient safety should be a core part of acupuncture education.

Indexed as

Patient SafetyAcupuncture TherapyHumans

Identifiers

PMID28611366
PMCPMC5469776

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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 OpenQuestion graph.