Key result
Acupuncture boosts AF cardioversion to sinus rhythm by ~40% vs. control.
Why the study?
Acupuncture has been proposed as a treatment for atrial fibrillation, but its therapeutic efficacy and safety remain questioned.
Does acupuncture treatment improve the rate of cardioversion to sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Meta-Analysis (n=633)
Does acupuncture treatment improve the rate of cardioversion to sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Relative Risk: 1.38 (95% CI 1.25–1.53)
p-value: p=< 0.05
Acupuncture may be an effective and safe adjunctive therapy for promoting cardioversion to sinus rhythm and reducing heart rate in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Acupuncture may warrant consideration as adjunctive AF therapy; extends pooled RCT evidence on efficacy and safety.
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common types of arrhythmia diagnosed in clinical practice. Due to its negative effects on people's physical and mental health, it is necessary to prevent and treat AF. Recently, scholars have found that acupuncture can be used to treat AF, but some scholars have questioned its therapeutic efficacy. AIM: Therefore, this study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for AF patients. METHODS: Previously published research articles were retrieved from six databases, and the data was analysed using RevMan5.3 software with a statistically significant difference defined as P < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 8 relevant kinds of literature were retrieved containing 633 AF patients (323 in the treatment group and 310 in the control group). Acupuncture treatment increased the total efficacy and the rate of AF cardioversion to sinus rhythm (RR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.53 vs RR: 1.40;95% CI: 1.16 to 1.69; each P < 0.05), and decreased the time of AF cardioversion to sinus rhythm, the heart rate and incidence of adverse effects (RR: -3.95; 95% CI: -4.98 to -2.91 vs RR: -14.54; 95% CI: -24.09 to -5.00 vs RR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.21 to 1.11, each P < 0.05). There was difference between retention time more and less than 30 minutes (I2 = 74.9%, P = 0.05). The funnel plot displayed a symmetrical and funnel-form shape, indicating low bias. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has a good therapeutic effect and safety profile on patients with AF, and its application in clinical practice should be considered.
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Yu et al. (2019) conducted a meta-analysis in Atrial fibrillation (n=633). Acupuncture vs. Control group was evaluated on Total efficacy (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.53, p=< 0.05). Acupuncture treatment significantly increased total efficacy (RR 1.38; 95% CI 1.25-1.53) and the rate of cardioversion to sinus rhythm (RR 1.40; 95% CI 1.16-1.69) in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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