Acupuncture with different acupoint combinations as adjunctive therapy for COPD: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: Acupuncture is beneficial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effect of different acupoint combinations to control COPD remains unknown. This study aims to compare the effects of distal-proximal point association, superior-inferior point association, and anterior-posterior point associationin COPD management. Methods and Analysis: The study is a multi-center, single-blind, randomized, sham-acupuncture controlled trial. A total of 150 participants will be randomly divided into five groups. All participants will receive bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory therapies recommended by the guidelines as standard therapy. The non-acupuncture group will receive standard treatment only, and the sham-acupuncture group will receive acupuncture at non-acupoint plus standard therapy, while the three acupuncture groups will receive acupuncture treatments three times a week plus standard therapy. Acupuncture group I will receive distal-proximal point association (Dingchuan(EX-B3), Feishu (BL14), Pishu (BL21), Shenshu (BL24), Lieque (LU7)), acupuncture group Ⅱ will receive superior-inferior point association (Dingchuan (EX-B3), Feishu (BL14), Pishu (BL21), Shenshu (BL24), Zusanli (ST36)), and acupuncture group III will receive anterior-posterior point association (Dingchuan (EX-B3), Feishu (BL14), Pishu (BL21), Shenshu (BL24), Zhongfu (LU1)). The primary outcome is the forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) measured using the lung function test. The secondary outcome measures are the modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC), COPD assessment test (CAT), 6-minute walk distance, to name a few. Assessment will be scheduled from the day before acupuncture to week 8 of acupuncture. Follow-ups will be performed from week 8 to week 26 post-acupuncture. Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval of this study has been granted by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ID: 2021KL-074). The outcomes of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. Results of this trial will help evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture with different acupoint combinations in the treatment of COPD. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2100051081.