SynthesisFrontiers in neurology
Effectiveness of nape acupuncture for post-stroke dysphagia: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nape acupuncture in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with post-stroke dysphagia (PSD), thereby providing evidence-based support for clinical treatment Strategies. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across eight databases: CNKI, VIP, WanFang, CBM, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating nape acupuncture for PSD, published from database inception to September, 2025, were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4, Stata 17.0, and TSA software, including subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and trial sequential analysis to identify sources of heterogeneity and assess the robustness of results. Adverse events were collected to provide data for evaluating the safety of nape acupuncture treatment, and the GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of the results. Results: A total of 21 eligible RCTs involving 1,995 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Results demonstrated that both nape acupuncture alone and nape acupuncture combined with other therapies significantly improved swallowing function in video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS): [Mean difference (MD) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.94, 1.51), Conclusion: Nape acupuncture, either alone or in combination with other therapies, significantly improves swallowing function and quality of life in patients with PSD, with a favorable safety profile characterized by minimal adverse events. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD420251089406.
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