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Acupuncture lowering blood pressure for secondary prevention of stroke: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized

Yu-Zheng Du1, Xin-Xin Gao2, Cheng-Ting Wang3,4

  • 1Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 88, Changling Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300000, China. hangyezhuanxiang15@163.com.

Trials
|September 17, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This pragmatic randomized controlled trial investigates acupuncture as an add-on therapy for hypertension and stroke patients. The study aims to assess if this treatment reduces stroke recurrence and improves patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Integrative Medicine

Background:

  • Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability globally.
  • Hypertension significantly increases the risk of stroke recurrence and mortality.
  • Effective secondary prevention strategies for stroke patients with hypertension are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture as an add-on treatment for patients with hypertension and ischemic stroke.
  • To determine the effect of blood pressure (BP)-lowering acupuncture on secondary stroke prevention.
  • To assess the safety and effectiveness of the "HuoXueSanFeng" acupuncture protocol.

Main Methods:

  • A large-scale, multicenter, blinded, pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 480 patients.
  • Patients randomly assigned to receive "HuoXueSanFeng" acupuncture plus antihypertensive medication or antihypertensive medication alone.
  • Outcomes include stroke recurrence, 24-h ambulatory BP, TCM syndrome score, SF-36, NIHSS, BI scale, and various ultrasound assessments over a 9-month follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Primary outcome is the recurrence of stroke.
  • Secondary outcomes include BP control, neurological deficit, quality of life, and functional status.
  • Safety of the acupuncture intervention will be systematically evaluated.

Conclusions:

  • The study aims to provide evidence for the use of acupuncture in the secondary prevention of stroke in hypertensive patients.
  • Findings will inform clinical practice regarding integrated treatment approaches for stroke and hypertension.
  • This research contributes to understanding the role of complementary therapies in managing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Abstract

Keywords:
AcupunctureHypertensionRCTSecondary prevention of strokeStudy protocol

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