Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with different frequencies in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).
Methods: A total of 90 patients with FD were randomly divided into a 3-time acupuncture treatment per week group (3-A group, 31 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a 1-time acupuncture treatment per week group (1-A group, 30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (29 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the two acupuncture groups, the acupoints were Zhongwan (CV 12) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25), Neiguan (PC 6), Liangqiu (ST 34), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3), stimulated 3 times a week and once a week, respectively; and the treatment was given consecutively for 4 weeks. In the control group, no intervention was adopted, but the compensatory therapy was provided after the end of follow-up. The scores of the symptom index of dyspepsia (SID), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were compared among the 3 groups before treatment, after 4 weeks of treatment and in 4 and 8 weeks after treatment completion separately. The score of Nepean dyspepsia life quality index (NDLQI) was evaluated before treatment, after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment and in 4 and 8 weeks after treatment completion.
Results: After 4 weeks of treatment and in 4 and 8 weeks after treatment completion, the scores of SID, SAS and SDS were all reduced in the 3-A group and the 1-A group when compared with the scores before treatment (P<0.000 1, P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of SID, SAS and SDS in the two acupuncture groups were lower than those in the control group (P<0.000 1). After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the increased values of NDLQI score in the two acupuncture groups were all higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). In 4 and 8 weeks after treatment completion, the scores of SID, SAS and SDS in the 3-A group were lower than those in the 1-A group (P<0.001, P<0.05), and the increased values of NDLQI score in the 3-A group were higher than those in the 1-A group (P<0.000 1).
Conclusion: Acupuncture given 3 times per week is superior to the treatment given once per week in the aspects of relieving the clinical symptoms, improving the quality of life and regulating the emotional state in patients with FD. This efficacy is persistent for 8 weeks after treatment completion.
目的：比较不同频次针刺治疗功能性消化不良（FD）患者的临床疗效。方法：将90例FD患者随机分为每周针刺3次组（31例，脱落2例）、每周针刺1次组（30例，脱落2例）及对照组（29例，脱落2例）。两个针刺组均取中脘及双侧天枢、内关、梁丘、阳陵泉、足三里和太冲，分别给予每周3次、每周1次的针刺治疗，连续治疗４周。对照组于随访结束后给予补偿性治疗。比较3组患者治疗前、治疗4周后及治疗结束后4、8周的消化不良症状（SID）积分、焦虑自评量表（SAS）评分、抑郁自评量表（SDS）评分；于治疗前，治疗2、4周后及治疗结束后4、8周评定3组患者尼平消化不良生活质量指数（NDLQI）评分。结果：治疗4周后和治疗结束后4、8周，每周针刺3次组、每周针刺1次组SID积分、SAS评分、SDS评分均较治疗前降低（P<0.000 1，P<0.05）。治疗4周后，每周针刺3次组、每周针刺1次组SID积分、SAS评分、SDS评分均低于对照组（P<0.000 1）；治疗2、4周后，每周针刺3次组、每周针刺1次组NDLQI评分较基线期升高值均高于对照组（P<0.05）；治疗结束后4、8周，每周针刺3次组SID积分、SAS评分、SDS评分低于每周针刺1次组（P<0.001，P<0.05），NDLQI评分较基线期升高值高于每周针刺1次组（P<0.000 1）。结论：每周针刺3次改善FD患者临床症状、生活质量、情绪状态优于每周针刺1次，治疗结束后其疗效可持续8周。.
Keywords: acupuncture; frequency of acupuncture; functional dyspepsia; randomized controlled trial (RCT).