Evaluation Of The Curative Effect Of Acupuncture On Improving The Symptoms Of Uterine Fibroids-exploratory Study

Study objectiveThe objective of this trial is to access the efficacy of acupuncture for improving the symptoms of patients with UF.MethodsParticipants with UF are randomly assigned with the proportion of 1:1 to the acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group.The participants will be treated three times a week for 8 weeks with 24 sessions.The primary outcome is the change of the symptoms severity of quality uterine fibroid(SS-QOL)from baseline after 8 weeks treatment.Secondary outcome is the change of the health-related quality of life of uterine fibroid(HR-QOL),SF-12,menorrhagia questionnaire(MQ),overall treatment effect scale(OTE)and abdominal ultrasound from baseline.ResultA total of 47 patients with UF were included in this study,44 patients completed the trial.Main Outcome Measures:Change of SS-QOL scale from baseline after 8-week treatment.The baseline of SS-QOL of acupuncture group is 40.6(20)and change from baseline is 16.80±14.80(P<0.05)while the baseline of SS-QOL of sham acupuncture group is 41.39±15.33 and change from baseline is 18.34±18.66(P<0.05).There was significant statistical difference in both groups while no statistical difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Secondary Outcomes:1.Change of SS-QOL scale from baseline after 4-week treatment is 14.73±16.34(P=0.03)and in the sham acupuncture group is 9.4(22)(P=0.001).There was statistical difference in both groups while no statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.466).2.Change of HR-QOL scale from baseline after 8-week treatment.After 8-week treatment,there was statistical difference in both groups while there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.307).3.Change of SF-12 scale from baseline after 8-week treatment.The baseline of PCS of acupuncture group is 37.78±10.19 and change from baseline is-4.71±8.11(P=0.015)while the baseline of PCS of sham acupuncture group is 46.99(8.91)and change from baseline is-1.2±5.09(P=0.531).There was significant statistical difference in both groups while no statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.09).After 8-week treatment,there wasn't statistical difference in terms of change of MCS in acupuncture groups,and there was statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.025).4.Change of MQ scale from baseline after 8-week treatment.There wasn't statistical difference in both groups as well as between the two groups(P=0.289).5.Change of OTE scale from baseline after 8-week treatment.There wasn't statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.129).ConclusionAcupuncture can reduce the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients with UF,but the efficacy is not better than that of sham acupuncture group,and the safety of acupuncture is good.The efficacy of acupuncture in relieving symptoms of UF needs to be further evaluated in large-scale multi-center clinical trials.