The efficacy of acupuncture in managing patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A systemic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE - This study aimed to systemically review published randomized control trials that compared the efficacy of acupuncture with sham acupuncture or standard medical treatment as management for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

METHODS - A systemic search of the PubMED®, Embase, Airiti Library, and China Journal Net was done for all randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy of acupuncture with sham acupuncture, alpha-blockers, antibiotics, or anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with CP/CPPS. Two investigators conducted the literature search, quality assessment, and data extraction. The data were then analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager (RevMan®, version 5. 3). The study endpoints were response rate, the National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Index (NIH-CPSI), and the International Prostate symptom score (IPSS) reduction.

RESULTS - Three and four randomized controlled trials compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture (n = 101 vs. 103) and medical treatment (n = 156 vs. 138), respectively. The results revealed that acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture as regards response rate (OR: 5. 15, 95%CI: 2. 72-9. 75; P < 0. 01), NIH-CPSI (WMD: -6. 09, 95%CI: -7. 85 to -4. 33), and IPSS (WMD: -2. 44, 95%CI: -4. 86 to -0. 03; P = 0. 05) reductions, therefore, excluding the placebo effect. Compared to standard medical treatments, acupuncture had a significantly higher response rate (OR: 3. 57, 95%CI: 1. 78-7. 15; P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONS - Acupuncture has promising efficacy for patients with CP/CPPS. Compared to standard medical treatment, it has better efficacy. Thus, it may also serve as a standard treatment option when available. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Neurourology and urodynamics. 2016 Jan 06 [Epub ahead of print]

Shang-Chih Chang, Chung-Hua Hsu, Chun-Kai Hsu, Stephen Shei-Dei Yang, Shang-Jen Chang

Linsen Chinese Medicine Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Intitute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. , Linsen Chinese Medicine Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Intitute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. , Division of Urology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, School of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi University, New Taipei City, Hualien, Taiwan. , Division of Urology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, School of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi University, New Taipei City, Hualien, Taiwan. , Division of Urology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, School of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi University, New Taipei City, Hualien, Taiwan.

PubMed