Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31435770›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neurology2020

Acupuncture versus propranolol in migraine prophylaxis: an indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis.

Yao-Yao Chen, Juan Li, Min Chen, Ling Yue, Tian-Wei She, Hui Zheng

Abstract readComparative StudyMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
4.4field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
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

9 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Review
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  6. Review
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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

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Yao-Yao ChenSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, The Third Teaching Hospital/Institute of Acupuncture and Homeostasis Regulation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 61000, China.
Juan LiCollege of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Min ChenTeaching Hospital/Clinical Medicine Department, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Ling YueSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, The Third Teaching Hospital/Institute of Acupuncture and Homeostasis Regulation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 61000, China.
Tian-Wei SheSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, The Third Teaching Hospital/Institute of Acupuncture and Homeostasis Regulation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 61000, China.
Hui ZhengSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, The Third Teaching Hospital/Institute of Acupuncture and Homeostasis Regulation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 61000, China. zhenghui@cdutcm.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0494-1217
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CN

Funding

Innovation Team Project from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine no. CXTD1701National Natural Science Foundation of China no. 81774321 and no. 81473777
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPropranolol is recommended as first-line treatment for preventing migraine attacks; acupuncture has not been compared with propranolol in a head-to-head trial.

objectiveTo compare acupuncture with propranolol using indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis.

methodWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). Randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture or propranolol with sham acupuncture, placebo, waiting-list control or usual care were included. We extracted information from the included trials using a standardized extraction form. The primary outcome was migraine episodes. The secondary outcomes included migraine days, migraine frequency, and adverse events.

resultsWe included 19 RCTs (n = 3656) after screening 1078 articles. The analysis showed that acupuncture had a significant advantage over propranolol in reducing migraine episodes over a 4-week period (SMD - 0.74, 95% CI - 1.04 to - 0.44). Acupuncture also had a significant advantage over waiting-list control in decreasing migraine frequency (SMD - 1.57, 95% CI - 2.08 to - 1.06). Acupuncture caused fewer adverse events than propranolol (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.11-5.94).

conclusionsAcupuncture had a better effect than propranolol in reducing migraine episodes in indirect comparison. The result should be confirmed in subsequent head-to-head studies. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42018108585.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyOutcome Assessment, Health CareAdrenergic beta-AntagonistsHumansMigraine DisordersPropranololAdrenergic beta-AntagonistsPropranololAcupunctureIndirect treatment comparisonMeta-analysisMigraine prophylaxisPropranolol

Identifiers

PMID31435770
OpenAlexW2969464494

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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 OpenQuestion graph.