Network Meta-Analysis of Acupoint Catgut Embedding in Treatment of Simple Obesity

Zhuo-Yuan Wang; Xiao-Yan Li; Xiao-Jun Gou; Chun-Lan Chen; Zun-Yuan Li; Chuang Zhao; Wen-Ge Huo; Yu-Hong Guo; Yan Yang; Zhi-Dan Liu

doi:10.1155/2022/6408073

Network Meta-Analysis of Acupoint Catgut Embedding in Treatment of Simple Obesity

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 May 23:2022:6408073. doi: 10.1155/2022/6408073. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Zhuo-Yuan Wang^{1

2}, Xiao-Yan Li^{1

2}, Xiao-Jun Gou^{1

2}, Chun-Lan Chen^{1

2}, Zun-Yuan Li^{1

2}, Chuang Zhao^{1

2}, Wen-Ge Huo^{1

2}, Yu-Hong Guo^{1

2}, Yan Yang^{1

2}, Zhi-Dan Liu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Baoshan Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201999, China.
² Baoshan District Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Shanghai, Shanghai 201999, China.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding in the treatment of simple obesity through network meta-analysis.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP database (VIP) were searched by using computer from 2011 to August 2021, and 35 RCT studies were retrieved. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the modified Jadad scoring table, and Stata 15.0 software was used for traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis.

Results: Thirty-five RCTs (3040 cases in total) were included. Acupoint embedding, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, TCM, acupoint embedding + acupuncture, acupoint embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint embedding + TCM, exercise diet therapy, acupoint embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint embedding + cupping were investigated in the studies. The results of network meta-analysis were as follows: in terms of total effective rate, acupoint catgut embedding was superior to acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and exercise diet therapy (P < 0.05); electroacupuncture, acupoint catgut embedding + acupuncture, acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut + cupping were superior to acupuncture (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut + moxibustion was superior to electroacupuncture (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut + cupping were superior to TCM treatment (P < 0.05); and electroacupuncture, acupoint catgut, acupoint catgut + acupuncture, acupoint catgut + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to sports diet therapy (P < 0.05). Regarding weight loss, acupuncture treatment was superior to acupoint catgut embedding therapy (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, and acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion were superior to TCM treatment (P < 0.05); and acupoint catgut embedding, acupoint catgut embedding + acupuncture, catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to exercise diet therapy (P < 0.05). In terms of BMI reduction, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were more evident than acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05); and acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion was more evident than electroacupuncture treatment (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Acupoint catgut embedding and its combination with other therapies are the first choice for the treatment of simple obesity.