Effect of Acupuncture on Artery Elasticity for Atherosclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic arterial disease. Atherosclerosis related diseases, like myocardial infarctions (MI) and strokes have the highest mortality and disability rate. However, limited evidence verified the effects of acupuncture on arterial stiffness for subclinical atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that acupuncture could improve arterial stiffness in subclinical atherosclerosis and resist plaque progression. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of acupuncture on arterial elasticity via ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) and explore the effect of acupuncture on lipid level and platelet function for subclinical atherosclerosis patients.MethodsThis was a randomized parallel controlled trial included 44 patients. Patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group. Patients completed 24 treatments in total within 12 weeks of intervention. The primary outcome was ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) assessed after every 4-weeks treatment; the secondary outcomes were carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), blood lipid levels, fibrinogen (FIB) and blood platelet. Intention-to-treat (ITT) principle was applied and data sets were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software.ResultsAmong the 44 randomly assigned patients, changes of right-side BS value in TA group (0.841) at week 12 were greater than SA group (-0.189), with a mean difference of 1.030 (95% CI, 0.320, 1.739; P =0.006). Similar results were observed in right-side ES, left-side BS, left-side ES at week 12. As to secondary outcomes, compared with SA group(1.08mm), the TA group(0.98mm) showed a significant decline in mean of left-side IMT at week 12. ( Z = -2.118; P =0.034). There were no serious adverse events.ConclusionsAmong patients with Carotid intima-media thickening, both-side carotids arterial elasticity is significantly improved after 12-week acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture. The effects of acupuncture are more noticeable at week 12 during end-systole.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn (NO. ChiCTR1900025551, 31/08/2019)