The influence of massage on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Introduction: The efficacy of massage to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinemia remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of massage on the neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Methods: We search PubMed, Embase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases through November 2017 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of massage on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.

Results: Six RCTs involving 357 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with the control group in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, massage therapy is associated with substantially reduced serum bilirubin level within 4 d (mean difference (MD) = −2.31; 95% CI = −2.92 to −1.70; p < .00001) and transcutaneous bilirubin level within 4 d for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (MD = −1.97; 95% CI = −2.55 to −1.39; p < .00001), but results no remarkable impact on serum bilirubin level on 2 d (MD = −0.82; 95% CI = −2.16–0.52; p = .23), transcutaneous bilirubin level on 2 d (MD = −0.17; 95% CI = −1.34 to 1.00; p = .77), frequency of defecation daily on 2 d (MD = 0.57; 95% CI = −0.03 to 1.16; p = .06), and frequency of defecation daily within 4 d (MD = 0.83; 95% CI = −0.11 to 1.76; p = .08).

Conclusions: Massage therapy can significantly reduce serum bilirubin level and transcutaneous bilirubin level within 4 d, but demonstrates no influence on serum bilirubin level and transcutaneous bilirubin level on 2 d, frequency of defecation daily on 2 and 4 d for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Keywords:

• Bilirubin level
• massage
• meta-analysis
• neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
• randomized controlled trials

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.