Analysis of Electroacupuncture Parameters for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Data Mining Approach

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Data Mining in Clinical Research

Background:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder.
• Acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture (EA), is increasingly used for IBS management.
• A lack of standardized EA parameters and acupoint prescriptions for IBS necessitates research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify effective electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation parameters and acupoint prescriptions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
• To utilize data mining methodologies for analyzing EA treatment protocols in IBS.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on EA for IBS (2013-2024) across nine databases.
• Extraction and quality assessment of EA parameters using Cochrane's risk of bias tool (RoB 2).
• Data analysis employing descriptive statistics, association rule analysis, and complex network analysis.

Main Results:

• 30 RCTs with 2906 participants were analyzed; all had low to high risk of bias.
• Frequently reported EA parameters: 2 Hz frequency, dilatational/continuous waves, 30-minute duration, 4-week course, daily treatment.
• Most frequent acupoints: ST25, ST37, ST36. Core acupoints identified: ST25, ST37, ST36, SP6, LR3, BL25, LI11, RN4.

Conclusions:

• A potential primary EA protocol for IBS includes 2 Hz, dilatational/continuous waves, 30-minute sessions, a 4-week course, and acupoint combination ST25→ST37.
• Methodological limitations in the included studies may impact the findings' robustness.
• Further validation is required for the clinical application of these EA therapeutic modalities in IBS management.