Abstract
BackgroundStroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in China. Current treatments for stroke are limited and achieve no optimal effect. Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of stroke and in improving the quality of life for patients in China. In most previous clinical studies, the effects of acupuncture have been diverse, and few well-designed randomized controlled trials have been conducted to investigate the long-term effect of acupuncture on acute stroke recovery.MethodThree hundred and twenty eight subjects with acute cerebral apoplexy will be recruited. The patients will be randomized into two different groups: the intervention group will receive acupuncture treatment together with Western standard treatment for 2 weeks plus the secondary prevention treatment for 22 weeks; the control group will receive only the Western standard treatment for 2 weeks and the secondary prevention treatment for 22 weeks. The primary outcome measures are Barthel Index and the Stroke-Specific Quality Of Life. The secondary outcome measures are the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Modified Rankin Scale. All assessments will be conducted at the baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 24 of follow-up.DiscussionThis study will evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the long-term recovery of acute stroke and on improving the quality of life of the patients. The results of this study will help establish optimal integrated therapeutic strategies for patients with stroke.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN29932220
Highlights
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in China
This study will evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the long-term recovery of acute stroke and on improving the quality of life of the patients
A recent randomized controlled trial demonstrated that acupuncture has no specific efficacy in stroke rehabilitation [17]
Summary
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in China. Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of stroke and in improving the quality of life for patients in China. Tough challenges remain in the treatment of stroke, the leading cause of death and disability in China [1]. Stroke is a global epidemic, about 85% of all stroke deaths are registered in low- and middle-income countries, and patients in these countries account for 87% of total stroke-related losses in terms of disability-adjusted life years [2]. Poor control of vascular risk factors and limited access to acute and primary care are the most common reasons for the high mortality and rate of disability after stroke. Secondary prevention-an important possible approach in the treatment of stroke-is largely lacking in low- and middle-income countries [4]
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