Conventional Treatments plus Acupuncture for Asthma in Adults and Adolescent: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Characteristics of the included studies.

First author (year)	Sample size	Stage, levels of severity	Sex (F:M)	Study location	Patient age/; Duration of disease	Intervention	Control	Study design
Fu Yu (2014)	107	Chronic persistent, middle	A: 54:25; B: 18:10	Beijing, China	A: 51.82 ± 9.90 y; B: 52.40 ± 9.18 y	Ventolin inhalant + Acupuncture (12 w)	Ventolin inhalant (12 w)	A1 vs. A2 vs. A3 vs. B
Jiang Suqun (2012)	160	Acute	A: 37:43; B: 35:45	Hunan, China	A: 32.31 ± 9.32 y; B: 34.21 ± 8.33 y	Bronchodilator + ICS + Antibiotics + Acupuncture (14 d)	Bronchodilator + ICS + Antibiotics (14 d)	A vs. B
Ju Kim (2013)	27	Chronic persistent	A: 8:5; B: 3:11	Jiangsu, China	A: 52.62 ± 14.16 y; B: 57.14 ± 12.24 y	Ventolin inhalant + Acupuncture (12 w)	Ventolin inhalant (12 w)	A vs. B
Jun-Yong Choi (2010)	30	Chronic persistent	A: 7:8; B: 7:8	Korea	A: 48.27 ± 7.99 y; B: 50.43 ± 12.64 y	Western medicine + Acupuncture (4 w)	Western medicine (4 w)	A vs. B vs. C
Lv Guifen (2012)	90	Chronic persistent	A: 17:13; B: 17:13	Shandong, China	A: 15–68 y; B: 16–17 y	Salmeterol Xinafoate and Fluticasone Propionate Powder for Inhalation (50/250 µg, Bid) + Acupuncture (4 w)	Salmeterol Xinafoate and Fluticasone Propionate Powder for Inhalation (50/250 µg, Bid, 4 w)	A vs. B vs. C
Wang Wenyan (2010)	70	Acute	A: 17:18; B: 18:17	Jilin, China	A: 15–65 y/2–15 y; B: 14–69 y/2–13 y	Bronchodilator + ICS + Antibiotics + Acupuncture (10 d)	Bronchodilator + ICS + Antibiotics (10 d)	A vs. B
Zhang Wenpeng (2006)	104	Chronic persistent	A: 44:15; B: 33:12	Russia	A: 44.5 ± 13.9 y; B: 44.2 ± 14.6 y	Western medicine + Acupuncture (12 d)	Western medicine (12 d)	A vs. B
Zhu Dongxiao (2010)	99	Chronic persistent	A: 18:15; B: 20:13	Henan, China	A: 12–85 y; B: 12–86 y	Beclomethasone Dipropionate Inhaler + Theophylline Sustained Release Tablets + Acupuncture	Beclomethasone Dipropionate Inhaler + Theophylline Sustained Release Tablets	A vs. B vs. C
Zhang Zhilong (2005)	90	Acute	A: 32:28; B: 16:14	Tianjin, China	A: 20–65 y/6–32 y; B: 19–65 y/5–33 y	Terbutaline sulphate aerosol + Acupuncture (10 d)	Terbutaline sulphate aerosol (10 d)	A vs. B

A: conventional treatments plus acupuncture; B: conventional treatments alone; Western medicine: any drug that is recommended by the Global Initiative For Asthma (GINA), including short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA), theophylline, leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA), inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and ICS/LABA.
Specific drugs were not specified.
The details are listed in Table 2.