Acupuncture for dyspnea and breathing physiology in chronic respiratory diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Dyspnea, a common symptom of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), is closely linked to higher levels of functional impairment and death, leading to significant societal and financial challenges. Despite numerous clinical trials and systematic reviews suggested the potential benefits of acupuncture for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclusively prove its effectiveness in alleviating dyspnea in patients with CRDs. Methods: To compile and evaluate the existing data on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for managing dyspnea in CRDs. Randomized controlled trials investigating acupuncture for the treatment of dyspnea in patients with CRDs, such as COPD, lung cancer, asthma, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, chronic pulmonary heart disease and bronchitis, were searched and retrieved from five electronic databases in English or Chinese. Results: A total of 23 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were found in databases, covering various CRDs such as COPD, lung cancer, and asthma. A meta-analysis that compared acupuncture to a control group (which included no acupuncture and sham acupuncture) found significant advantages for acupuncture in reducing dyspnea severity (P = 0.0003), increasing 6MWD (P