Safety and Effectiveness of Moxibustion and Abdominal Massage in Hospitalized Older Patients With Constipation: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Evidence about moxibustion and abdominal massage for treating constipation in older hospitalized patients is limited. PURPOSE To investigate the safety and effectiveness of moxibustion and abdominal massage in hospitalized older patients with constipation. METHODS Hospitalized older patients (age ≥60 years) with constipation were retrospectively categorized as 2 cohorts according to whether the patients received moxibustion and abdominal massage in addition to routine nursing care. Gastrointestinal symptoms, Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) scores, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores were compared before and after treatment between cohorts. RESULTS The 2 cohorts (n = 100 for each) had similar baseline characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms; the control cohort and the additional intervention cohort also had similar CAS scores (7.14 ± 3.67 vs 7.48 ± 2.96, respectively), and GDS scores (>17: 31% vs 29%, respectively). Improvement in the 2 scores from baseline was observed after 2 weeks in both the control cohort and the additional intervention cohort (CAS, 5.37 ± 5.34 and 3.80 ± 4.47, respectively; GDS, >17: 28% and 15%, respectively). The cohort with additional interventions had a lower ineffective rate (defined as persistent symptoms or absence of decrease in CAS, 49% vs 32%; P = .028) but had more diarrhea (9% vs 21%; P = .017). CONCLUSION Moxibustion and abdominal massage may help relieve constipation in hospitalized elderly patients, but attention should be paid to the increased occurrence of diarrhea. More study is needed.