Abstract
Objectives: Vasomotor symptoms (VMSs) are the most common symptoms reported during menopause. Although hormone therapy is effective for reducing VMSs, its use is restricted in some women. Many women with VMSs thus seek nonhormonal, nonpharmacologic treatment options such as acupuncture. Design: An umbrella systematic review (SR) was conducted, supplemented by a search of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs), that assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture for VMSs, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and adverse effects of treatment in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model when data were sufficient. Results: Three SRs and four new RCTs were identified that met eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses of this study revealed statistically significant standardized mean differences (SMDs) associated with acupuncture compared with no acupuncture at reducing VMS frequency (SMD -0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.06 to -0.26, I2 = 61.7%, 5 trials) and VMS severity (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.85 to -0.13, I2 = 18.1%, 4 trials) and improving HRQOL outcomes (SMD -0.93, 95% CI -1.20 to -0.67, I2 = 0.0%, 3 trials). SMDs were smaller or not statistically significant when acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture. Conclusions: Evidence from RCTs supports the use of acupuncture as an adjunctive or stand-alone treatment for reducing VMSs and improving HRQOL outcomes, with the caveat that observed clinical benefit associated with acupuncture may be due, in part, or in whole to nonspecific effects. The safety of acupuncture in the treatment of VMSs has not been rigorously examined, but there is no clear signal for a significant potential for harm.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 314-323 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- acupuncture
- health-related quality of life
- hot flashes
- nonpharmacologic treatment
- vasomotor symptoms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Complementary and alternative medicine
Cite this
Management of Menopause Symptoms with Acupuncture : An Umbrella Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. / Befus, Deanna; Coeytaux, Remy R.; Goldstein, Karen M.; McDuffie, Jennifer R.; Shepherd-Banigan, Megan; Goode, Adam P.; Kosinski, Andrzej; Van Noord, Megan G.; Adam, Soheir S.; Masilamani, Varsha; Nagi, Avishek; Williams, John W.
In: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 24, No. 4, 04.2018, p. 314-323.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Management of Menopause Symptoms with Acupuncture
T2 - An Umbrella Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
AU - Befus, Deanna
AU - Coeytaux, Remy R.
AU - Goldstein, Karen M.
AU - McDuffie, Jennifer R.
AU - Shepherd-Banigan, Megan
AU - Goode, Adam P.
AU - Kosinski, Andrzej
AU - Van Noord, Megan G.
AU - Adam, Soheir S.
AU - Masilamani, Varsha
AU - Nagi, Avishek
AU - Williams, John W.
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Objectives: Vasomotor symptoms (VMSs) are the most common symptoms reported during menopause. Although hormone therapy is effective for reducing VMSs, its use is restricted in some women. Many women with VMSs thus seek nonhormonal, nonpharmacologic treatment options such as acupuncture. Design: An umbrella systematic review (SR) was conducted, supplemented by a search of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs), that assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture for VMSs, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and adverse effects of treatment in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model when data were sufficient. Results: Three SRs and four new RCTs were identified that met eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses of this study revealed statistically significant standardized mean differences (SMDs) associated with acupuncture compared with no acupuncture at reducing VMS frequency (SMD -0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.06 to -0.26, I2 = 61.7%, 5 trials) and VMS severity (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.85 to -0.13, I2 = 18.1%, 4 trials) and improving HRQOL outcomes (SMD -0.93, 95% CI -1.20 to -0.67, I2 = 0.0%, 3 trials). SMDs were smaller or not statistically significant when acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture. Conclusions: Evidence from RCTs supports the use of acupuncture as an adjunctive or stand-alone treatment for reducing VMSs and improving HRQOL outcomes, with the caveat that observed clinical benefit associated with acupuncture may be due, in part, or in whole to nonspecific effects. The safety of acupuncture in the treatment of VMSs has not been rigorously examined, but there is no clear signal for a significant potential for harm.
AB - Objectives: Vasomotor symptoms (VMSs) are the most common symptoms reported during menopause. Although hormone therapy is effective for reducing VMSs, its use is restricted in some women. Many women with VMSs thus seek nonhormonal, nonpharmacologic treatment options such as acupuncture. Design: An umbrella systematic review (SR) was conducted, supplemented by a search of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs), that assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture for VMSs, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and adverse effects of treatment in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model when data were sufficient. Results: Three SRs and four new RCTs were identified that met eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses of this study revealed statistically significant standardized mean differences (SMDs) associated with acupuncture compared with no acupuncture at reducing VMS frequency (SMD -0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.06 to -0.26, I2 = 61.7%, 5 trials) and VMS severity (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.85 to -0.13, I2 = 18.1%, 4 trials) and improving HRQOL outcomes (SMD -0.93, 95% CI -1.20 to -0.67, I2 = 0.0%, 3 trials). SMDs were smaller or not statistically significant when acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture. Conclusions: Evidence from RCTs supports the use of acupuncture as an adjunctive or stand-alone treatment for reducing VMSs and improving HRQOL outcomes, with the caveat that observed clinical benefit associated with acupuncture may be due, in part, or in whole to nonspecific effects. The safety of acupuncture in the treatment of VMSs has not been rigorously examined, but there is no clear signal for a significant potential for harm.
KW - acupuncture
KW - health-related quality of life
KW - hot flashes
KW - nonpharmacologic treatment
KW - vasomotor symptoms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045853927&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85045853927&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/acm.2016.0408
DO - 10.1089/acm.2016.0408
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29298078
AN - SCOPUS:85045853927
VL - 24
SP - 314
EP - 323
JO - Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
JF - Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
SN - 1075-5535
IS - 4
ER -