{"title":"The effectiveness and safety of auricular acupoint-related therapy for nicotine dependence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Qindong Mi, Xiaolong Zhao, Zhijun Zhang, Fei Bao","doi":"10.18332/tid/200550","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture-related therapies (AARTs) in managing nicotine dependence (ND).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched eight databases from their inception through December 2024 and screened randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating AART for ND. The primary outcome was the ND cessation rate. We assessed study quality using the ROB-2 tool and applied the GRADE approach to determine the certainty or quality of of evidence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine RCTs involving 1032 patients were analyzed. Meta-analysis results indicate that AART significantly reduces the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale score (MNWS) in ND patients compared to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (mean difference, MD=1.47; 95% CI: 0.06-2.88, p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in ND point cessation rate, Fagerström test for nicotine dependence score (FTND), Hamilton Anxiety Scale score (HAMA), daily smoking volume, or exhaled CO levels between AART and NRT. Notably, AART was associated with a lower incidence of adverse events compared to NRT (relative risk, RR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.04-0.56, p<0.01). There were also no significant differences in the ND point cessation rate between auricular-plaster therapy (APT), body acupuncture (BA), and the combination of APT and BA.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AART is effective in improving ND, showing greater efficacy in reducing MNWS and enhanced safety compared to NRT. Given the limited number of studies, the optimal AART regimen remains undetermined. Further research is needed to confirm and refine these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":23202,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Induced Diseases","volume":"23 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11808481/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Tobacco Induced Diseases","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/200550","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture-related therapies (AARTs) in managing nicotine dependence (ND).
Methods: We searched eight databases from their inception through December 2024 and screened randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating AART for ND. The primary outcome was the ND cessation rate. We assessed study quality using the ROB-2 tool and applied the GRADE approach to determine the certainty or quality of of evidence.
Results: Nine RCTs involving 1032 patients were analyzed. Meta-analysis results indicate that AART significantly reduces the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale score (MNWS) in ND patients compared to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (mean difference, MD=1.47; 95% CI: 0.06-2.88, p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in ND point cessation rate, Fagerström test for nicotine dependence score (FTND), Hamilton Anxiety Scale score (HAMA), daily smoking volume, or exhaled CO levels between AART and NRT. Notably, AART was associated with a lower incidence of adverse events compared to NRT (relative risk, RR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.04-0.56, p<0.01). There were also no significant differences in the ND point cessation rate between auricular-plaster therapy (APT), body acupuncture (BA), and the combination of APT and BA.
Conclusions: AART is effective in improving ND, showing greater efficacy in reducing MNWS and enhanced safety compared to NRT. Given the limited number of studies, the optimal AART regimen remains undetermined. Further research is needed to confirm and refine these findings.
期刊介绍:
Tobacco Induced Diseases encompasses all aspects of research related to the prevention and control of tobacco use at a global level. Preventing diseases attributable to tobacco is only one aspect of the journal, whose overall scope is to provide a forum for the publication of research articles that can contribute to reducing the burden of tobacco induced diseases globally. To address this epidemic we believe that there must be an avenue for the publication of research/policy activities on tobacco control initiatives that may be very important at a regional and national level. This approach provides a very important "hands on" service to the tobacco control community at a global scale - as common problems have common solutions. Hence, we see ourselves as "connectors" within this global community.
The journal hence encourages the submission of articles from all medical, biological and psychosocial disciplines, ranging from medical and dental clinicians, through health professionals to basic biomedical and clinical scientists.