The maintenance effect of acupuncture on breast cancer-related menopause symptoms: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture has been used for many breast cancer treatment-related problems, but how long the effect lasts is unknown. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate how long the effect of acupuncture on breast cancer-related hot flushes and menopause symptoms lasts.

Methods: The research design followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement, without language restrictions. Seven databases from inception through February 2019 were accessed; only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that examined the maintenance effect of acupuncture on hot flushes or menopause symptoms after treatment were included. Cochrane criteria were followed and RevMan 5.2 software was used to analyze trials.

Results: In total, 943 patients from 13 RCTs were analyzed. The meta-analysis showed that acupuncture had no significant long-term maintenance effect on the frequency or severity of hot flushes (p = 0.29; p = 0.34), but had a significant 3-month maintenance effect of ameliorating menopause symptoms at 3 months after treatment ended (p = 0.001). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: Acupuncture significantly alleviated menopause symptoms for at least 3 months, but not hot flushes. Breast cancer patients concerned about the adverse effects of hormone therapy could consider acupuncture as an alternative. Additional acupuncture at 3 months after the initial treatment course could be considered. A large-scale study may help to define the optimal guideline for this issue.

摘要

背景：针灸用于治疗许多乳腺癌相关的问题, 但其效果持续多久尚未知。本荟萃分析旨在评估针灸治疗乳腺癌相关潮热和更年期症状的效果持续时间。

方法：研究设计遵循系统回顾和荟萃分析的报告项目, 不受语言限制。从开始到2019年2月共检索了7个数据库；只有随机临床试验（RCT）研究了针灸对治疗后潮热或更年期症状的维持作用, 故只有RCT纳入研究。根据Cochrane标准, 应用RevMan 5.2软件进行检索分析。

结果：共分析13个随机对照试验的943例患者。荟萃分析显示, 针灸对潮热的频率和严重程度没有显著的长期维持作用(p=0.29;p=0.34), 但在治疗结束后3个月对改善更年期症状有显著的3个月维持作用(p=0.001)。无不良事件报告。

结论：针灸治疗至少3个月后, 更年期症状明显减轻, 但不能缓解潮热。考虑到激素治疗的副作用, 乳腺癌患者可以考虑针灸作为替代疗法。可以考虑在初始疗程后3个月再进行针灸治疗。大规模的研究可能有助于为这一问题确定最佳的指导方针。

Keywords:

• Acupuncture
• breast cancer
• hot flushes
• menopause symptom
• systematic review

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all authors from the included clinical trials who provided their study details and information, and the members of our team.

Potential conflict of interest

The authors disclose that there were no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The study is supported by Ministry of Science and Technology – MOST, Taiwan [grant 107-2635-B-532-003-].