Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33532304›Full record

ArticleTranslational andrology and urology2021

Optimal acupoint and session of acupuncture for patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Wei Zhang, Yu Fang, Minfeng Shi, Mingzhen Zhang, Yuangui Chen, Tie Zhou

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational andrology and urology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
6.4field-weighted citation impact, top 3% 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

10 citing papers in PubMed, 32 citations in OpenAlex.

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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 2 institutions in 1 country.

Wei ZhangDepartment of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Yu FangDepartment of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Minfeng ShiReproductive Center, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Mingzhen ZhangSecond Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Yuangui ChenHongkou Branch, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Tie ZhouDepartment of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Changhai Hospital · CNWenzhou Medical University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe study aims to perform a meta-analysis of published trials and evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) by symptom score reduction, optimal acupuncture session, and most frequently used acupoints.

methodsA literature search was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing efficacy of acupuncture with sham acupuncture or standard medication on CP/CPPS. The primary outcome was the reduction of National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Index (NIH-CPSI) total score and its subscales. The optimal acupuncture session to reach its clinical efficacy and most common compatibility rule of acupoints were also evaluated.

resultsTen trials involving 770 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed compared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture yielded significant reduction in NIH-CPSI total score [weighted mean difference (WMD): 7.28, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 5.69-8.86), and provided better pain relief (WMD: 3.57, 95% CI: 2.07-5.08), urinary symptoms improvement (WMD: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.13-2.22), and quality of life (QOL) (WMD: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.41-3.36). Compared with standard medication, acupuncture were more efficacious in reducing NIH-CPSI total score (WMD: 3.36, 95% CI: 1.27-5.45), also showed significant greater pain relief (WMD: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.67-3.06), marginal advantage in improving QOL (WMD: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.12-1.83) but no difference in reducing urinary symptom (WMD: -0.03, 95% CI: -1.30 to 1.24). Four acupuncture sessions were the minimum "dose" to reach clinical efficacy, and prolonged acupuncture sessions continuously improved urinary symptoms and QOL. The majority of acupoint selection strategies were based on the combination of any three acupoints from CV3, CV4, BL32, SP6, and SP9.

conclusionsAcupuncture has promising efficacy for patients with CP/CPPS, especially category IIIB, in aspects of relieving pain and urinary symptoms and improving the QOL. Acupuncture may serve as a standard treatment option when available, and a tailored comprehensive treatment strategy for CP/CPPS is the future trend.

Indexed as

acupoint selectionAcupunctureacupuncture sessionchronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS)National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Index (NIH-CPSI)

Identifiers

PMID33532304
PMCPMC7844493
OpenAlexW3111932096

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.