Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for benign prostatic hyperplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Seven databases were searched from the inception of each database to March 31, 2023, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and China Biology Medicine. The modified Jadad scale was used to assess literature quality, and literature inclusion and exclusion were conducted in strict accordance with the criteria of a score of ≥4. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The pooled effect size of the binary data was measured by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the pooled effect size of the continuous data was presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI. If I² was larger than 50%, a random effects model was adopted, and otherwise, a fixed effects model was used. Additionally, publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were conducted.

A total of 325 records were retrieved, and finally 9 randomized controlled trial studies were included, involving 1045 patients. Meta-analysis revealed that the EA group had better improvement than the control group in terms of clinical effective rate (odds ratio = 3.92, 95% CI = 2.38 to 6.47, I² = 0%, P < .001), International Prostate Symptom Score (WMD = -4.99, 95% CI = -6.15 to -3.84, I² = 76.9%, P < .001), maximum urinary flow rate (WMD = -4.99, 95% CI = -6.15 to -3.84, I² = 87.4%, P < .001), and post-void residual volume (WMD = -17.12, 95% CI = -29.49 to -4.75, I² = 89.1%, P < .01). There was no statistical significance in prostate volume and adverse events between the EA group and the control group (P > .05).

EA is effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with acceptable overall safety.