Acupuncture for Symptom Management in Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective, Observational Pilot Study.

Kim, Kun Hyung; Kim, Tae-Hun; Kang, Jung Won; Sul, Jae-Uk; Lee, Myeong Soo; Kim, Jong-In; Shin, Mi Suk; Jung, So Young; Kim, Ae Ran; Kang, Kyung Won; Choi, Sun Mi

Objectives: Patients undergoing hemodialysis suffer from a variety of complications related to end-stage renal disease. This prospective, observational pilot study aims to determine the feasibility, safety, and possible benefits of acupuncture for symptom management in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: Twenty-four (24) patients undergoing hemodialysis received acupuncture treatment for their symptoms. Manually stimulated, individualized acupuncture treatments were provided twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks on a nondialysis day or on the day of hemodialysis prior to initiating treatment. Symptoms were evaluated using the Measure Your Medical Outcome Profiles 2 questionnaire, and quality of life was measured by Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF™) Version 1.3 at baseline, 7 weeks and 11 weeks from baseline. Statistical analysis was conducted on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle. Results: Twenty-one (21) patients (87%) completed the whole treatment course and follow-up evaluation. Three (3) patients dropped out due to increased fatigue ( n = 1), pancreatic and renal transplantation ( n = 1), and infections of the arteriovenous fistula used for hemodialysis access ( n = 1). Patients experienced a significant improvement of symptoms considered the most bothersome, reporting a decrease of 1.87 and 2.08 points on a 0-6 symptom scale at 7 weeks and 11 weeks, respectively (both p < 0.0001). Some subscales of KDQOL-SF™ showed significant improvement at 7 weeks (effects of kidney disease, burden of kidney disease, role-limitations physical, emotional well-being, and energy/fatigue) and 11 weeks (physical functioning and energy/fatigue). No serious adverse events related to acupuncture occurred. Conclusions: Acupuncture seems feasible and safe for symptom management in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Future controlled trials are needed to confirm the benefits of acupuncture.

SOUTH Korea; ACUPUNCTURE; ALTERNATIVE medicine; ANALYSIS of variance; CLINICAL trials; COMPUTER software; HEMODIALYSIS; LONGITUDINAL method; HEALTH outcome assessment; RESEARCH funding; STATISTICAL hypothesis testing; STATISTICS; T-test (Statistics); TRANSLATIONS; PILOT projects; DATA analysis; STATISTICAL significance; TREATMENT effectiveness; PRE-tests & post-tests

Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 2011, Vol 17, Issue 8, p741

1075-5535

Academic Journal

10.1089/acm.2010.0206