Placebo response variability on health-related quality of life outcomes in irritable bowel syndrome: an arm-based network meta-analysis.

IF 3.3 3区医学 Q1 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES Quality of Life Research Pub Date : 2025-02-25 DOI:10.1007/s11136-025-03927-w

Zhenzhi Wang, Yukun Chen, Xinyu Li, Li Lin, Bozhu Chen, Min Chen, Hui Zheng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: The impact of placebo response on health outcomes in various diseases, including IBS, is significant. To better understand the effect of different placebo administration methods on the observed outcomes in IBS studies, this meta-analysis aims to explore research findings on the degree of improvement.

Methods: The meta-analysis included 45 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials involving 5174 patients with confirmed IBS (excluding those with significant comorbidities). The trials were designed to compare the efficacy of different placebo interventions. The primary outcome was the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS), and secondary outcomes included the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life Instrument (IBS-QoL) and the IBS Symptom Visual Analog Scale (VAS). An arm-based Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to examine the relative effectiveness of the placebo interventions on the outcomes.

Results: The analysis revealed that sham moxibustion exhibited the most significant efficacy in reducing IBS-SSS (MD -260.00, 95% CrIs: -288.00 to -232.00). Additionally, sham FMT resulted in significant improvements in IBS-QOL scores (MD 9.23, 95% CrIs - 3.69 to 22.30). Meanwhile, placebo tablet interventions were found to be the most effective in reducing VAS scores (MD 4.71, 95% CrIs, -1.14 to 11.10). Overall, this synthesis provides detailed insights into the effectiveness of placebos in addressing different outcome measures.

Conclusions: Sham moxibustion appears to provide subjective benefits for patients' IBS symptoms. However, the evidence for its efficacy is less robust compared to other interventions, as assessed by GRADE. Understanding the placebo effect in IBS management is crucial for clinical practice and drug development, particularly in placebo comparisons.

Registration id: INPLASY2024110111. https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2024.11.0111 .

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来源期刊

Quality of Life Research 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

8.60%

发文量

224

审稿时长

3-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Quality of Life Research is an international, multidisciplinary journal devoted to the rapid communication of original research, theoretical articles and methodological reports related to the field of quality of life, in all the health sciences. The journal also offers editorials, literature, book and software reviews, correspondence and abstracts of conferences. Quality of life has become a prominent issue in biometry, philosophy, social science, clinical medicine, health services and outcomes research. The journal''s scope reflects the wide application of quality of life assessment and research in the biological and social sciences. All original work is subject to peer review for originality, scientific quality and relevance to a broad readership. This is an official journal of the International Society of Quality of Life Research.