Objective: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on the conventional treatment.
Methods: A total of 35 patients with COVID-19 of mild or ordinary type were involved (3 cases dropped off). Acupuncture was applied on the basis of western medicine and Chinese materia medica treatment. Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Kongzui (LU 6), Hegu (LI 4), etc. were selected as the main acupoints, the supplementary acupoints and the reinforcing and reducing manipulations were selected according to syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week. On day 3 and day 7 of acupuncture, relief condition of the main symptoms was observed. Before acupuncture and on day 3 and day 7 of acupuncture, efficacy evaluation scale of TCM on COVID-19 (efficacy evaluation scale) score was recorded. The effects of different intervention time of acupuncture on patients' hospitalization time were compared, the understanding of acupuncture treatment of patients discharged from hospital was recorded, the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment were evaluated.
Results: On day 3 and day 7 of acupuncture, the symptoms of lung system and non lung system were both relieved; the scores of efficacy evaluation scale were both decreased compared before acupuncture (P<0.05), and the efficacy evaluation scale score of day 7 of acupuncture were lower than day 3 of acupuncture (P<0.05). The average hospitalization time of patients received early acupuncture was shorter than late acupuncture (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 84.4% (27/32) on day 7 of acupuncture, which was higher than 34.4% (11/32) on day 3 of acupuncture (P<0.05). During the acupuncture treatment, there were neither adverse reactions in patients nor occupational exposures in doctors. The patients generally believed that acupuncture could promote the recovery of COVID-19 and recommended acupuncture treatment.
Conclusion: On the basis of the conventional treatment, acupuncture can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms in patients with COVID-19, early intervention of acupuncture can accelerate the recovery process. Acupuncture has good safety, clinical compliance and recognition of patients.
目的：在常规治疗基础上，观察针刺治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎的临床疗效。方法：纳入35例轻型/普通型新型冠状病毒肺炎患者（脱落3例），在西医及中药治疗基础上联合针刺治疗，主穴取大椎、风池、孔最、合谷等，根据辨证选取配穴及补泻手法，每日1次，每周5次。观察患者针刺第3、7天主要症状的缓解情况，于针刺前及针刺第3、7天记录患者中医药治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎疗效评价量表（疗效评价量表）积分，比较不同针刺介入时间对患者住院时间的影响，记录出院患者对针刺治疗的认识，并评定针刺治疗临床疗效及安全性。结果：针刺第3、7天，患者肺系相关症状及非肺系相关症状均得到有效缓解；患者疗效评价量表积分均低于针刺前（P<0.05），且针刺第7天低于针刺第3天（P<0.05）。痊愈出院患者中，早针刺患者平均住院时间短于晚针刺患者（P<0.05）。针刺第7天总有效率为84.4%（27/32），高于针刺第3天的34.4%（11/32，P<0.05）。治疗期间患者未出现针刺不良反应，操作者未出现职业暴露；患者普遍认为针刺可帮助病情恢复，推荐接受针刺治疗。结论：在常规治疗基础上，针刺可有效缓解新型冠状病毒肺炎患者临床症状，早期介入针刺可加快患者康复进程，安全性好，患者依从性及认可度较高。.
Keywords: acupuncture; clinical observation; coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); intervention time; safety.