Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
From: Efficacy of acupuncture in children with asthma: a systematic review
Author (year) | Study design | Patients | Stage of asthma | Number of patients | Age years (mean ± SD) | Gender M/F | Intervention | Acupoint(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Karlson and Bennicke (2013) [15] | RCT | Children ages 6 months to 6 years with asthma | NA | 64 | 2.8 ± 1.6 | NA | Acupuncture + acupressure: 10 sessions (1.5 h each) over a period of 3 months | Acupuncture: LIV (liver) 2 |
Acupressure: LU 7, REN 17, REN 22, LI 4, PC 6, SP 6, SP 10, ST 36, ST 40, K 3, K 7, DU 14, DU 20, Dingchuan | ||||||||
58 | 2.2 ± 1.1 | Control: No acupuncture | None | |||||
Scheewe et al. (2011) [16] | RCT | Children and adolescents ages 12-17 years with bronchial asthma | NA | 46 | Male: 14.6 ± 1.8 | 26/20 | Acupuncture: Total of 12 sessions (30 min each) over a 4-week period | Bilateral bladder 13; bilateral conception vessel 17; bilateral lung 7; plus 2-6 additional points |
Female: 15.0 ± 2.1 | ||||||||
47 | Male: 13.7 ± 1.2 | 25/22 | Control: No acupuncture | None | ||||
Female: 16.2 ± 1.7 | ||||||||
Nedeljković et al. (2008) [17] | RCT | Children ages 7-17 years with asthma | Acute bronchial obstruction | 50 | 11 | 25/25 | Su Jok therapy (laser at acupuncture points in hand): Total 10 sessions (5 each week except for weekends over 12 days) | According to the 6-Ki Su Jok principles |
50 | 25/25 | Control: No acupuncture | None | |||||
Stockert et al. (2007) [18] | RCT | Children ages 6-12 years with asthma | Intermittent or mild | 7 | 9.4 ± 2.4 | NA | Laser acupuncture (10 treatments of laser acupuncture on a once-weekly schedule) + probiotic drops (20 drops 3 times daily for 7 weeks) | Lung 1, 5, 7, 9, 11; large intestine 4, 6, 19, 20; bladder 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23; stomach 13, 25, 36, 40, 44; spleen 3, 6, 9, 10; heart 3, 5, 7; small intestine 3; kidney 3, 6, 8, 27; pericardium 6; triple heater 5, 15; gallbladder 3, 34, 40, 41; liver 2, 3, 8, 13; Yintang, Dingchuan; conception vessel 4, 6, 9, 17, 21; governor vessel 4, 13 |
9 | 10.0 ± 1.9 | Control: 10 placebo laser acupuncture sessions + placebo drops | No laser light | |||||
Gruber et al. (2002) [19] | RCT, crossover | Children with exercise-induced asthma | Mild to moderate | 44 | 11.9 ± 2.6 | 26/18 | Laser acupuncture: Single treatment | Yintang (EX 1), Chize (LU 5), Lieque (LU 7), Feishu (UB 13), Geshu (UB 17), and Shanzhong (CV 17) |
Control: Laser acupuncture at placebo points; single treatment | Baihui (GV 20), Quze (PE 3), Neiguan (PE 6), Dashu (UB 11), Weishu (UB 21), and Zhongwan (CV 12) | |||||||
Fung et al. (1986) [20] | RCT, crossover | Children with exercise-induced asthma | Mild to moderate | 19 | Range 9-13.5 | NA | Acupuncture: Applied 20 min before exercise | Dingchuan (extra 17), kongzui (L6), and taixi (K3) |
NA | Control: No acupuncture or acupuncture applied at placebo points 20 min before exercise | Placebo points: Jianwaishu (SI14), ximen (P4), and xuanzhong (G39) | ||||||
Chow et al. (1983) [21] | RCT, crossover | Children with exercise-induced asthma | NA | 16 | 11 (range 8-13) | NA | Acupuncture: Applied 10 min before exercise (once per week for 2 weeks) | Auricular lung point |
Control: No acupuncture (baseline) or acupuncture applied at placebo point | Auricular lumbago point |