| Author, Year, Followup,a Pain Duration, Study Quality | Intervention | Population | Function and Pain Outcomes | Other Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Assefi, 2005246 3 and 6 months Mean duration of pain: 9 to 12 years Good | A. Acupuncture (n=25): in accordance with Traditional Chinese Medicine B. Sham Acupuncture (n=24): Needling for Unrelated Condition C. Sham Acupuncture (n=24): Sham Needling D. Sham Acupuncture (n=23): Simulated Acupuncture Treatment protocol: 24 sessions (2/week for 12 weeks) | A vs. B vs. C vs. D Mean age: 46 vs. 46 vs. 49 vs. 48 years Female: 88% vs. 96% vs. 100% vs. 96% Race (white): 96% vs. 88% vs. 96% vs. 92% Mean duration of pain: 12 vs. 9 vs. 9 vs. 10 years Baseline pain Intensity VAS (0-10): 7.0 vs. 6.9 vs. 6.8 vs. 7.3 | A. vs. B vs. C vs. D 3 months Pain Intensity VASb: 6.0 vs. 5.4 vs. 5.4 vs. 4.5 6 months Pain Intensity VASb: 5.7 vs. 6.0 vs. 5.2 vs. 5.2 A vs. B+C+D Across all timepointsc Pain intensity VAS: adjusted difference 0.5, (95% CI −0.3 to 1.2) | A. vs. B vs. C vs. D 3 months SF-36 PCS (0-100)b: 31 vs. 39 vs. 31.5 vs. 40 SF-36 MSC (0-100)b: 46 vs. 46.5 vs. 48.5 vs. 47 Sleep Quality VAS (0-10)a: 4.3 vs. 4.1 vs. 5.2 vs. 5.5 Overall Well-Being VAS (0-10)b: 4.9 vs. 4.9 vs. 5.0 vs. 6.3 6 months SF-36 PCSb: 31 vs. 36 vs. 31. vs. 39 SF-36 MCSb: 43 vs. 45 vs. 50 vs. 46.5 Sleep Quality VASb: 4.3 vs. 3.4 vs. 5.4 vs. 5.5 Overall Well-Being VASb: 4.6 vs. 4.6 vs. 5.7 vs. 5.7 A vs. B+C+D Across all time-pointsc SF-36 PCS: adjusted difference −0.4 (95% CI −2.3 to 1.5) SF-36 MCS: adjusted difference −1.5, (95% CI −4.0 to 1.0) Sleep Quality VAS: adjusted difference −0.5, (95% CI −1.3 to 0.2) Overall Well-Being VAS: adjusted difference −0.3, (95% CI −1.0 to 0.3) |
Karatay, 2018249 1 and 3 months Duration of pain: Mean 3.9 to 5.0 years Fair [New trial] | A. Acupuncture (n=24): 18 acupoints using 0.25x25 mm stainless steel needles; 2, 30 minute sessions per week for 4 weeks (8 total) B. Sham acupuncture (n=25): 2, 30 minute sessions per week for 4 weeks (8 total) C. Simulated acupuncture (n=23): 2, 30 minute sessions per week for 4 weeks (8 total) | A vs. B vs. C Age: 35 vs. 34 vs. 35 years Duration of disease: 4.4 vs. 3.9 vs. 5 years Baseline FIQ (0-100): 70.8 vs. 65.9 vs. 57.4 Baseline pain VAS (0-10): 8.1 vs. 7.7 vs. 8.7 Baseline NHP pain (0-100): 82.6 vs. 65.2 vs. 67.9 | A vs. B 3 months FIQ (0-100): 43.6 vs. 58.4, difference −14.8 (95% CI −26.5 to −3.0) VAS (0-10): 4.5 vs. 7.0, difference −2.5 (95% CI −4.1 to −1.0) NHP pain (0-100): 18.6 vs. 57.9, difference −39.3 (95% CI −59.4 to −19.1) A vs. C 3 months FIQ: 43.6 vs. 55.6, difference −11.94 (95% CI −23.1 to −0.8) VAS: 4.5 vs. 8.2, difference −3.7 (95% CI −5.1 to −2.4) NHP pain: 18.6 vs. 72.3, difference −53.6 (95% CI −72.3 to −34.9) | A vs. B 3 months NHP physical mobility: 15.4 vs. 33.1, difference −17.7 (95% CI −31.4 to −4.0) NHP energy: 29.3 vs. 69.7, difference −40.4 (95% CI −65.8 to −15.0) NHP sleep: 9.7 vs. 47.9, difference −38.2 (95% CI −55.9 to −20.6) NHP social isolation: 8.1 vs. 29.0, difference −20.9 (95% CI −38.2 to −3.6) NHP emotional reactions: 20.6 vs. 56.4, difference −35.9 (95% CI −56.8 to −14.9) BDI: 10.1 vs. 31.4, difference −21.2 (95% CI −29.5 to −13.0) A vs. C 3 months NHP physical mobility: 15.4 vs. 52.8, difference −37.4 (95% CI −53.1 to −21.7) NHP energy: 29.3 vs. 71.4, difference −42.1 (95% CI −66.9 to −17.4) NHP sleep: 9.7 vs. 63.3, difference −53.6 (95% CI −71.6 to −35.7) NHP social isolation: 8.1 vs. 48.8, difference −40.7 (95% CI −57.9 to −23.5) NHP emotional reactions: 20.6 vs. 59.32, difference −38.74 (95% CI −59.4 to −18.1) BDI: 10.1 vs. 35.4, difference −25.2 (95% CI −32.4 to −18.1) |
Martin, 2006247 1 and 7 months Duration of pain: NR Good | A. Acupuncture (n=25): 6 treatments over 2 to 3 weeks B. Sham Acupuncture (n=25): sham needling; 6 treatments over 2 to 3 weeks | A vs. B Age: 48 vs. 52 years Female: 100% vs. 96% Race: 96% vs. 100% white Baseline FIQ total (0-80): 42.4 vs. 44.0 Baseline FIQ Physical Function (0-10): 4.1 vs. 3.6 Baseline MPI Interference (scale NR): 42.6 vs. 36.9 Baseline MPI General Activity Level (scale NR): 55.7 vs. 56.6 Baseline MPI Pain Severity (scale NR): 40.4 vs. 43.0 Baseline FIQ Pain (0-10): 6.2 vs. 6.5 | A vs. B 1 month FIQ Total: 34.8 vs. 42.2, difference −4.9 (95% CI −8.7 to −1.2) FIQ Physical Function: 3.7 vs. 3.3, difference –0.4 (95% CI –1.1 to 0.3) MPI Interference: 38.3 vs. 34.9, difference 0.1 (95% CI –3.4 to 3.6) MPI General Activity Level: 55.4 vs. 58.3, difference –1.2, (95% CI –3.8 to 1.4) MPI Pain Severity: 34.2 vs. 41.6, difference –4.6 (95% CI –8.7 to –0.5) FIQ pain: 4.7 vs. 5.9, difference –0.8, (95% CI –1.8 to 0.2) 7 months FIQ Total: 38.1 vs. 42.7, difference –4.3 (95% CI –7.7 to –0.9) FIQ Physical Function: 3.5 vs. 3.3, difference –0.3 (95% CI –0.9 to 0.3) MPI Interference: 37.7 vs. 35.5, difference 0.1 (95% CI –3.2 to 3.4) MPI General Activity Level: 58.1 vs. 59.5, difference –0.6 (95% CI –3.1 to 1.8) MPI Pain Severity: 37.3 vs. 41.4, difference –3.8 (95% CI –7.5 to –0.2) | A vs. B 1 month FIQ Anxiety (0-10): 2.6 vs. 5.1, difference –1.1 (95% CI –2.0 to –0.2) FIQ Depression (0-10): 2.0 vs. 3.7, difference –0.7 (95% CI –1.6 to 0.3) FIQ Sleep (0-10): 5.9 vs. 6.8, difference –0.7 (95% CI –1.8 to 0.5) FIQ Well-Being (0-10): 4.6 vs. 3.1, difference 0.8 (95% CI –0.4 to 2.0) 7 months FIQ Anxiety: 3.3 vs. 4.8, difference –1.1 (95% CI –1.9 to –0.2) FIQ Depression: 2.2 vs. 3.6, difference –0.7 (95% CI –1.6 to 0.2) FIQ Sleep: 6.1 vs. 6.3, difference –0.3 (95% CI –1.3 to 0.6) FIQ Well-Being: 3.8 vs. 3.6, difference 0.4 (95% CI –0.6 to 1.4) |
Mist, 2018250 1 month Duration of symptoms: NR Fair [New trial] | A. Group acupuncture (n=16): 20, 45-minute long treatments over 10 weeks B. Education attention control (n=14) | A vs. B Age: 52 vs. 56 years BMI: 33 vs. 33 kg/m^2 Baseline VAS-pain (from FIQR): 6.2 vs. 6.3 | A vs. B 1 month VAS: 4.0 vs. 6.2, p<0.001 | NR |
Vas, 2016248 3.75 and 9.75 months Duration of pain: NR Good | A. Acupuncture (n=82): 1, 20 minute session per week for 9 weeks B. Sham Acupuncture (n=82): simulated acupuncture; 1, 20 minute session per week for 9 weeks All patients received pharmacological treatment as prescribed by GP. | A vs. B Age: 52.3 vs. 53.2 years Female: 100% vs. 100% Baseline FIQ (0-100): 71.7 vs. 70.1 Baseline Pain Intensity VAS (0-100): 79.3 vs. 75.8 | A vs. B 3.75 months FIQ % mean relative change: −25.0 vs. −11.2, Cohen’s d=0.58 Pain Intensity VAS % mean relative change: −23.6 vs. −16.6, Cohen’s d=0.28 9.75 months FIQ % mean relative change (%): −22.2 vs. −4.9, Cohen’s d=0.80, Pain intensity VAS % mean relative change: −19.9 vs. −6.2, Cohen’s d=0.62 | A vs. B 3.75 months HDRS % mean relative change: NR SF-12 MCS % mean relative change: 30.6 vs. 13.9, Cohen’s d=0.38 SF-12 PCS % mean relative change: 37.0 vs. 15.5, Cohen’s d=0.56 9.75 months HDRS % mean relative change: −19.1 vs. −5.9, Cohen’s d=0.22 SF-12 PCS % mean relative change: 37.2 vs. 11.4, Cohen’s d=0.58 SF-12 MCS % mean relative change: 23.0 vs. 9.4, Cohen’s d=0.36 |
BDI = Beck Depression Inventory; CI = confidence interval; FIQ = Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire; GP = general practitioner; HDRS = Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; MCS = Mental Component Score; MPI = Multidimensional Pain Inventory; NHP = Nottingham Health Profile; NR = not reported; PCS = Physical Component Score; SF-12 = Short-Form-12 questionaire; SF-36 = Short-Form 36 questionaire; VAS = visual analog scale
Unless otherwise noted, followup time is calculated from the end of the treatment period
Outcome values were estimated from graphs.
Authors combined the three sham control groups and calculated the adjusted least-square mean difference between the acupuncture group and combined control groups. Treatment-by-time interaction was not included in the models; therefore data reflects results across all time-points.
From: Results
NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.