Safety of Acupuncture in Patients Taking Newer Oral Anticoagulants: A Retrospective Chart Review Study
Table 3
Side effects of acupuncture in the study groups.
Group A
Group B
Group C
p value
(n = 28)
(n = 145)
(n = 143)
Total number of acupuncture treatments, n
1076
4574
4527
Total number of side effects
43 (4.0)
314 (6.9)
250 (5.5)
<0.001
Microbleeding (10 s ≤ x < 30 s)
42 (3.9)
254 (5.6)
230 (5.1)
0.084
10 s ≤ x < 20 s
42 (3.8)
217 (4.5)
203 (4.3)
0.065
20 s ≤ x < 30 s
0 (0.0)
37 (0.8)
27 (0.6)
Extensive bleeding
0 (0.0)
4 (0.0)
2 (0.0)
Massive hemorrhage
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Bruising
1 (0.0)
31 (0.6)
13 (0.2)
Edema
0 (0.0)
22 (0.4)
4 (0.0)
Faintness or dizziness
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
1 (0.0)
Fatigue or exhaustion
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Nausea or vomiting
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Pneumothorax
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Needle fracture
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Skin eruption or itching
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Pain after needling
0 (0.0)
3 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Other adverse effects
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
The data are shown as the number (percentage). Group A includes patients taking an NOAC. Group B includes patients taking an antiplatelet agent. Group C includes the controls who were not taking an NOAC or antiplatelet agent. Chi-squared test.
