Electro-acupuncture Treatment For Stroke And Urge Incontinence, Efficacy And Safety Evaluation

ObjectiveTo evaluate the short-term curative effect and safety of electroacupuncture on urge urinary incontinence after stroke.MethodsProspective, randomized controlled trial (RCT), blinding to assessors and data analyzers. Thirty-six patients with urge urinary incontinence after stroke were randomized into a treatment group of 18 cases treated with electroacupuncture and a control group of 18 cases treated with Western medicine combined with bladder training therapy. Clinical score and weight of 24 hours'urine were respectively compared before treatment, after 2 weeks'treatment and after 4 weeks'treatment. Safety of the treatment was evaluated by recording the adverse reaction during and after the treatment.Results1 Baselines of both treatment group and control group are equal (P>0.05).2 Short-term effects:2.1 By clinical score:Both treatment and control group showed significant difference after intervention (P<0.01),which suggested therapeutic effective for both groups.2.2 By weight of 24 hours'urine:Treatment group showed significant difference after intervention (P<0.01) which suggested therapeutic effective. Control group had no significant difference after intervention(P=0.156)which suggested no therapeutic effective.2.3 There was no statistical difference both in clinical score and weight of 24 hours'urine between the treatment group and the control group after 2 weeks (P>0.05).2.3.1 Comparison between the treatment group and the control group in clinical score after 2 weeksFor treatment group, 0 case (0%) was cured; 2 cases (11.1%) were effective and 16 cases (88.9%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for treatment group was 11.1%. For control group, 0 case (0%)was cured, 0 case(0%) was effective and 18 cases(100%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for control group was 0%. There was no significant difference between two groups(P﹥0.05).2.3.2 Comparison between the treatment group and the control group in weight of 24 hours'urine after 2 weeksFor treatment group, 0 case (0%) was cured; 3 cases (16.7%) were effective and 15 cases (83.3%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for treatment group was 16.7%. For control group, 0 case (0%)was cured, 1 case (5.6%) was effective and 17 cases (94.4%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for control group was 5.6%. There was no significant difference between two groups(P﹥0.05).2.4 Both in clinical score and weight of 24 hours'urine, treatment group got better curative effects than those of control group after 4 weeks, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).2.4.1 Comparison between the treatment group and the control group in clinical score after 4 weeksFor treatment group, 1 case (5.6%) was cured; 6 cases (33.3%) were effective and 11 cases (61.1%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for treatment group was 38.9%. For control group, 0 case (0%)was cured, 0 case (0%) was effective and 18 cases (100%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for control group was 0%. Effects of treatment group were better than those of control group (P<0.05).2.4.2 Comparison between the treatment group and the control group in weight of 24 hours'urine after 4 weeksFor treatment group, 0 case (0%) was cured; 8 cases (44.4%) were effective and 10 cases (55.6%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for treatment group was 44.4%.For control group, 0 case (0%)was cured, 2 cases (11.1%) were effective and 16 cases (88.9%) were ineffective. Total effective rate for control group was 11.1%. Effects of treatment group were better than those of control group (P<0.05).3 SafetyThere was no adverse reaction in patients of treatment group.Conclusion 1 The short-term curative effect of electroacupuncture on urge urinary incontinence after stroke is exact.2 Manipulated with right method, electroacupuncture at Ciliao, Zhongliao, Huiyang proved to be safe for patients. Trials with bigger size still to be carried out to confirm the result.3 Electroacupuncture at Ciliao, Zhongliao, Huiyang is an effective and safe treatment for urge urinary incontinence after stroke and should be recommended to practitioners.