Acupoint for angina pectoris: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Cardiology
• Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

• Angina pectoris (AP) patients frequently suffer from psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, negatively impacting quality of life and survival.
• Acupoint therapies (massage, acupuncture, acupoint injection, acupressure, moxibustion) have demonstrated clinical benefits for AP, but their efficacy requires thorough evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the efficacy and safety of diverse acupoint-based therapies for patients with angina pectoris.
• To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of acupoint interventions in managing AP symptoms and improving patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, etc.) for observational studies.
• Independent data extraction and quality assessment by two reviewers using standardized tools (AMSTAR, GRADE).
• Meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan V.5.0 and STATA V.12.0, with heterogeneity assessed by the I2 test and publication bias by funnel plots and Egger's test.

Main Results:

• This systematic review will synthesize data on pain, functional disability, quality of life, treatment success rates, recurrence rates, and complication rates.
• The findings will provide a high-quality assessment of the effectiveness and safety of acupoint therapies for AP patients.

Conclusions:

• The systematic review and meta-analysis will determine if acupoint therapies are effective interventions for angina pectoris.
• Evidence generated will inform the design of early, targeted interventions for high-risk AP survivors to mitigate negative psychological reactions.