Acupuncture and asthma: a review of controlled trials

Author(s): Riet, t. , G, Knipschild, P.

Journal/Book: Thorax. 1991; 46: 799-802.

Abstract: Background Published controlled trials of acupuncture in asthma have often contained a small number of sub-jects and the results are contradictory. Controlled trials have been reviewed to determine whether clearer conclusions could be obtained by assessing as many studies as possible according to meth-odological criteria.Methods A literature search produced 13 trials an the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of patients with asthma. These studies were reviewed an the basis of 18 predefined methodological criteria. A maximum of 100 points for study design could be earned in three main categories: (a) adequate study Popula-tion, (b) adequate intervention, and (c) adequate measurement of effects.Results The quality of even the eight better studies (more than 50% of the maximum score) proved to be mediocre. No study earned more than 72% of the maximum score. The results from the better studies are highly contradictory.Conclusions Claims that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of asthma are not based an the results of well per-formed clinical trials.

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