Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture combined with warm needling for subjective tinnitus: A multicenter, three-arm randomized controlled trial

IF 3.3 3区医学 Q1 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Complementary therapies in medicine Pub Date : 2025-05-13 DOI:10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103191

Lai Fun Ho , Yuanqi Guo , Liyi Chen , Herbert Fung , Wai Yan Mak , Siu Chuen Cheung , Ping Him Tsang , Min Chen , Kam Leung Chan , Hongwei Zhang , Wai Tsz Chang , Bacon Fung-Leung Ng , Zhi Xiu Lin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) and electroacupuncture combined with warm needling (EAWN) on reducing tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related distress among older adults.

Methods

This multicenter, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was conducted from December 2022 to April 2024 at three out-patient clinics in Hong Kong. Ninety eligible participants aged 50–70 years with subjective tinnitus for 0.5–24 months were equally randomized to EA, EAWN, or waitlist groups. Both treatment groups received two standardized treatment sessions per week for 5 weeks. The waitlist group received no treatment during the study period. The outcome measures were numeric rating scale (NRS) scores for tinnitus loudness, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores, and safety outcomes. Assessments were conducted at baseline, weeks 5 and 10.

Results

Both EA and EAWN groups showed significantly greater reductions in NRS scores for tinnitus loudness than did the waitlist group at weeks 5 (mean difference [95 % confidence interval]; EA: −1.91 [-2.79 to −1.03]; P < 0.001; EAWN: −1.81 [-2.68 to −0.94]; P < 0.001) and 10 (EA: −2.03 [-2.95 to −1.11]; P < 0.001; EAWN: −1.98 [-2.92 to −1.04]; P < 0.001). Improvements in total THI scores were also greater in the intervention groups at weeks 5 (P < 0.01) and 10 (P < 0.001). The two intervention groups showed no significant differences. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

Both EA and EAWN therapies could be effective and safe treatments for subjective tinnitus in older adults.

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电针及电针结合温针治疗主观性耳鸣的疗效和安全性：一项多中心、三组随机对照试验。

目的：评价电针（EA）与电针联合温针（EAWN）降低老年人耳鸣响度和耳鸣相关痛苦的临床疗效和安全性。方法：该多中心、评估盲、平行组、随机临床试验于2022年12月至2024年4月在香港三家门诊诊所进行。90名年龄在50-70岁、主观耳鸣持续0.5-24个月的符合条件的参与者被随机分为EA组、EAWN组或候补组。两个治疗组每周接受两次标准化治疗，持续5周。候补组在研究期间未接受任何治疗。结果测量是耳鸣响度的数字评定量表（NRS）评分、耳鸣障碍量表（THI）评分和安全性结果。在基线、第5周和第10周进行评估。结果：在第5周，EA组和EAWN组在耳鸣响度的NRS评分上的下降幅度都明显大于等候名单组(平均差异[95%置信区间]；EA: -1.91[-2.79至-1.03]；P < 0.001；[-2.68至-0.94]；P < 0.001)和10 (EA: -2.03[-2.95至-1.11]；P < 0.001；[-2.92至-1.04]；P < 0.001)。干预组在第5周（P < 0.01）和第10周（P < 0.001） THI总分的改善也更大。两个干预组无显著性差异。无严重不良事件报告。结论：EA和EAWN治疗老年人主观性耳鸣均安全有效。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Complementary therapies in medicine 医学-全科医学与补充医学

CiteScore

8.60

自引率

2.80%

发文量

101

审稿时长

112 days

期刊介绍： Complementary Therapies in Medicine is an international, peer-reviewed journal that has considerable appeal to anyone who seeks objective and critical information on complementary therapies or who wishes to deepen their understanding of these approaches. It will be of particular interest to healthcare practitioners including family practitioners, complementary therapists, nurses, and physiotherapists; to academics including social scientists and CAM researchers; to healthcare managers; and to patients. Complementary Therapies in Medicine aims to publish valid, relevant and rigorous research and serious discussion articles with the main purpose of improving healthcare.