Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34521235›Full record

SynthesisIntegrative cancer therapies

Effects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Yu Gao, Tingting Ma, Mei Han, Mingwei Yu, Xiuhui Wang, Yiren Lv, Xiaomin Wang

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Integrative cancer therapies. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 24% 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, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
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

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Yu GaoBeijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Tingting MaBeijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Mei HanBeijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Mingwei YuBeijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xiuhui WangBeijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Yiren LvBeijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xiaomin WangBeijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1274-224X
Capital Medical University · CNBeijing University of Chinese Medicine · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

methodsWe retrieved RCTs published before January 24, 2021, from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (VIP), and Wanfang databases. RCTs that compared acupuncture and/or moxibustion intervention with other treatments were included. A random effects or fixed effects model was used based on the heterogeneity findings. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

resultsWe included 14 RCTs in the analyses, of which 4 RCTs adopted acupuncture, 4 RCTs used moxibustion, and the rest used both. AM significantly reduced arm circumference at the elbow crease compared to routine care (Mean deviation (MD) = -7.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -8.30 to -6.21,

conclusionOur results suggest that AM is effective in the treatment of BCRL. AM may reduce arm circumference at the elbow crease (compared to routine care), increase effective index for upper limb lymphedema (compared to oral diosmin tablets), improve the range of motion of the shoulder during protraction and adduction (compared to oral diosmin tablets), and decrease the VAS for both swelling (compared to pneumatic circulation) and pain (compared to blank control).

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyBreast NeoplasmsLymphedemaMoxibustionFemaleHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicacupuncturebreast cancer-related lymphedemamoxibustion

Identifiers

PMID34521235
PMCPMC8447094
OpenAlexW3200433864

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.