Analysis on acupoints selection and combination for functional dyspepsia: Data mining of randomized controlled trials

Background

The aim of the study was to explore the regularity of acupoints combination in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD) by means of data mining technology.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of nine databases from their inception to December 2022 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The acupoints prescriptions in the treatment of FD were extracted and analyzed based on association rule mining and network analysis. Furthermore, the acupoints prescribed for irritability symptom of FD were quantified by forward inference, reverse inference and Bayes factor (BF) correction.

Results

A total of 45 RCTs on 30 acupoints were included, involving 172 times the total application frequency. Analysis of acupoints prescriptions covered 29 meridian acupoints and one extra-ordinary point, disturbing in 10 meridians. The top three acupoints in application frequency were Zusanli (ST36, 19.77%), Neiguan (PC6, 16.86%), Zhongwan (CV12, 12.21%). The most involved meridian was the foot yangming stomach meridian (34 times). The most frequently used acupoints combinations were PC6 and ST36. The core prescriptions were ST36, PC6, Tianshu(ST25), CV12. The specificities of acupoints selection for FD with dysphoria as follows: using the forward inference, PC6, Taichong(LR3), Qimen(LR14), CV12, Danzhong(CV17), ST25, ST36 were selected. Using the reverse inference and BF correction, PC6, CV12, CV17, Sanyinjiao(SP6), ST25, ST36 were selected.

Conclusion

ST36, PC6, ST25, CV12 could be used as the main prescriptions in treating FD. For FD with dysphoria the acupoints prescription is PC6, CV12, CV17, ST25 and ST36.