Study on Acupuncture Treatment of Chronic Airway Diseases(Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. A total of 336 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 240 patients with acute attack of asthma were included. On the basis of guideline-directed treatment, the experimental group received acupuncture treatment, while the control group was given sham acupuncture treatment. For patients with AECOPD, the acupoints selected were Zhongfu, Dingchuan, Tiantu, Fenglong, and Feishu. For patients with acute attack of asthma, the acupoints selected were Dingchuan, Zhongfu, Tiantu, Feishu, and Kongzui. The acupoints were connected to electroacupuncture and treated for 30 minutes. The control group received sham acupuncture treatment. The acupoints were located 5 to 10 mm away from the actual acupoints, and the needles were inserted superficially through the skin. The acupoints were connected to electroacupuncture but without electricity. The treatment lasted for 30 minutes, once a day, for one week. Follow-up was conducted for 13 weeks. For COPD, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) was the primary outcome measure, and the secondary outcome measures included the mMRC scale, assessment of airway mucus hypersecretion, CT assessment of airway mucus, basic vital signs, clinical symptom scores, use of control medications and antibiotics, acute exacerbation status, hospitalization time, tracheal intubation rate, and arterial blood gas. For asthma, the peak expiratory flow (PEF) was the primary outcome measure, and the secondary outcome measures included the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), assessment of airway mucus hypersecretion, CT assessment of airway mucus, basic vital signs, clinical symptom scores, use of control medications and antibiotics, acute attack status, hospitalization time, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). The clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture were evaluated. The population with advantages was identified based on the improvement of the primary outcome measures. The mechanism of acupuncture in reducing airway mucus hypersecretion was preliminarily explained.

• Astham part: the Asthma Control Test (ACT) [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]
• Asthma part：Asthma Control Questionnaire(ACQ) [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]
• Asthma part：Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire(AQLQ) [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]
• Asthma part：The cough and expectoration assessment questionnaire (CASA-Q) [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]
• Asthma part：Evaluation of Airway Mucus Hypersecretion [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]
• Asthma part：Evaluation of Airway Mucus by CT Imaging [Срок оценки: Before treatment, and day 7]
• Asthma part：Clinical symptom score [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]
• Asthma part：Acute attack status [Срок оценки: Follow-up at the 4th and 13th weeks]
• Asthma part：Hospitalization time [Срок оценки: At 4 weeks of follow-up]
• Asthma part：Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) [Срок оценки: Before treatment, and day 7]
• COPD part：clinical symptoms and signs questionnaire [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]
• COPD part：mMRC [Срок оценки: Before treatment, at 4 and 7 days of treatment, and at 4 and 13 weeks of follow-up]