Medical Conditions Treated by Acupuncture: A Preliminary Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Background: Physicians, patients, researchers, healthcare providers, and national health authorities have questioned which medical conditions can be treated by acupuncture. An increasing number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have involved acupuncture treatment. Objectives: To present a preliminary review of RCTs in PubMed and to summarize relevant medical conditions that can be treated by acupuncture. Design, Setting, and Subject: A PubMed search was performed to identify qualified RCTs from January 1978 to December 2007. Two reviewers independently extracted data for analysis. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, was used for disease classifications. Main Outcome Measures: The total number of RCTs for every medical condition, RCTs for every major class, and the percentages of major class. Results: A total of 587 RCTs were identified; 130 medical conditions covered 16 major groups: diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (21 conditions, 16.2% of the total number of conditions); diseases of the nervous system (17, 13.1%); diseases of the genitourinary system (14, 10.8%); mental and behavioral disorders (12, 9.2%); diseases of the digestive system (12, 9.2%); and injury, poisoning, and other consequences of external causes (12, 9.2%). Each of the remaining systems comprised less than 7%. Conclusions: Acupuncture has been tested in a wide range of diseases and disorders, with the most studies conducted in diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, the nervous system, and the genitourinary system. Based on our analysis, painful conditions occupied a large proportion of acupuncture RCTs whereas little attention focused on diseases of the eye, skin, and infections.