Abstract
To reduce the health care burden of strokes, the Taiwan Department of Health launched the Pilot Scheme of the Health Policy in Stroke Adjuvant Acupuncture Therapy (HPSAAT) in 2006. This cross-sectional, hospital-based, match-controlled study at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center during 2006∼2008 retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics of acute and subacute ischemic stroke patients who electively joined the HPSAAT. The study also evaluated the safety and clinical benefits of adjuvant acupuncture in treating acute and subacute ischemic stroke patients. Twenty-six HPSAAT participants and 52 age-sex matched random controls were enrolled. The stroke baseline of the HPSAAT participants was more severe than the non-HPSAAT controls. Although the stroke severity closely correlates to mortality and comorbidity, this study noted no significant complications in the HPSAAT participants during the acupuncture treatment course. Adjuvant acupuncture was considered safe at the acute and subacute stages of ischemic stroke. Due to uneven baseline severity, the clinical benefits in reducing neurological deficits and functional recovery were not concluded in this study.
Highlights
As one of the leading causes of death, strokes contribute to a worldwide health care burden [1, 2]
The stroke severity closely correlates to mortality and comorbidity, this study noted no significant complications in the Health Policy in Stroke Adjuvant Acupuncture Therapy (HPSAAT) participants during the acupuncture treatment course
Acute and subacute stroke patients admitted to the neurology ward and neurology intensive care unit (NICU) from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2008 were assessed for eligibility
Summary
As one of the leading causes of death, strokes contribute to a worldwide health care burden [1, 2]. Acupuncture has long been applied in treating stroke patients and has been recommended by the World Health Organization [3]. The National Health Insurance (NHI) is the social insurance that has covered the medical expenses of over 99% of 23.0 million Taiwanese citizens since 1995 [4,5,6]. Aiming to improve the health care of stroke patients, the Department of Health launched an NHI-sponsored national project in 2006, namely the Pilot Scheme of the Health Policy in Stroke Adjuvant Acupuncture Therapy (HPSAAT). In 2010, the HPSAAT has been conducting in 27 medical centers and local hospitals under an annual budget of 2.7 million US dollars
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