Review of Acupuncture Treatment for Hypertension in Clinical Trials

임상연구의 고혈압 침치료법에 대한 고찰

  • Jung, So-Young (Acupuncture, Moxibustion & Meridian Research Group, Division of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine) ;
  • Park, Ji-Eun (Acupuncture, Moxibustion & Meridian Research Group, Division of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Jung-Eun (Acupuncture, Moxibustion & Meridian Research Group, Division of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Ae-Ran (Acupuncture, Moxibustion & Meridian Research Group, Division of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Sun-Mi (Acupuncture, Moxibustion & Meridian Research Group, Division of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
  • 정소영 (한국한의학연구원 의료연구부 침구경락연구그룹) ;
  • 박지은 (한국한의학연구원 의료연구부 침구경락연구그룹) ;
  • 김정은 (한국한의학연구원 의료연구부 침구경락연구그룹) ;
  • 김애란 (한국한의학연구원 의료연구부 침구경락연구그룹) ;
  • 최선미 (한국한의학연구원 의료연구부 침구경락연구그룹)
  • Received : 2011.10.04
  • Accepted : 2011.11.09
  • Published : 2012.03.31

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods: Eight Korean databases and four international databases were searched for clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension up to June 2011. Study quality was assessed using the risk of bias (ROB) tool. Results: Twenty-four trials of acupuncture for hypertension were included. There were 14 randomized and 1 non-randomized controlled trials and 9 before-after studies. The most frequently used acupuncture points were zsnli (ST36), qch (LI11), fngch (GB20), snynjio (SP06), snjin (LI03) and hgu (LI04). In more than half of the studies, needle retention time was 20~30 minutes. Compared to baseline, change of blood pressure after treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect on blood pressure between acupuncture and control were not consistent. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hypertension. Further well-designed clinical trials will be required to evaluate the effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for hypertension.

Keywords

References

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