To examine the impact of electroacupuncture (EA) at the 'four sacral points' on urge urinary incontinence (UUI).
Twenty-five patients diagnosed with UUI or urgency-predominant mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) were treated by EA at the 'four sacral points'. EA was performed in the sacrococcygeal region using disposable sterile 0.40-mm-diameter acupuncture needles that were either 100 or 125 mm in length. Treatments were delivered once every other day. Before and after treatment, a questionnaire measuring symptom severity and quality of life associated with UUI was administered.
The median total score (interquartile range) from the severity of symptoms and the quality of life questionnaire (Q-score) of the participants was significantly reduced from 12 (7.5, 15) before treatment to 3 (0, 6) after 6 (6, 12) EA treatments. The Q-score of urgency-predominant MUI and UUI was 8 (5, 14.5) and 12.5 (11, 15), respectively, before treatment; after treatment these were reduced to 2 (0, 7.5) and 4.5 (2, 6), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the Q-score between urgency-predominant MUI and UUI before and after treatment. Upon treatment completion, seven patients (28%) were 'cured' (improvement rate 100%). Treatments were considered 'markedly effective' (improvement rate 75% to <100%) in four patients (16%), 'effective' (improvement rate 50% to <75%) in eight patients (32%), 'minimally effective' (improvement rate 25% to <50%) in three patients (12%), and 'ineffective' (improvement rate <25%) in three patients (12%). The overall success rate (comprising 'cured', 'markedly effective' and 'effective' categories) was 76%, and no adverse effects associated with acupuncture treatment were reported.
EA at the 'four sacral points' was associated with statistically significant improvements in UUI.
Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society. 2020 Dec 17 [Epub ahead of print]
Shan Chen, Siyou Wang, Lihua Xuan, Fu Xu, Hanti Lu, Jing Lu
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China., Clinical Research Section, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai, China., Clinical Evaluation and Analysis Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China., Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, China.