Open Access

The effect of auricular therapy on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Date: 1 January 2020
Journal: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , Pages 20 - 30
Authors: J. Gao , G. Chen , H. He , C. Liu , Q. He , J. Li , J. Wang

ESC Journals

AbstractBackground

Although a number of clinical studies have investigated the effectiveness and safety of auricular therapy for treating hypertension, the overall evidence remains uncertain.

Aims

We aimed to evaluate the evidence for the effect of auricular therapy on blood pressure using meta-analysis methodology.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, Clinicalkey, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Scientific Journal Database and Wanfang Database and Chinese Biomedicine for trials that compared the effects of auricular therapy to that of sham auricular therapy, antihypertensive drugs, or no intervention on blood pressure. Blood pressure values before and after treatment, magnitude of blood pressure change between baseline and post-intervention, and the efficacy rate, as outcomes, were synthesized by RevMan 5.3. Continuous outcomes were expressed as weighted mean differences, and dichotomous data were expressed as relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

We systematically reviewed 44 randomized controlled trials (involving 5022 patients through June 2018). Auricular acupressure plus antihypertensive drugs might be more effective than antihypertensive drugs alone in both reducing systolic blood pressure value after treatment (n=464 patients; mean difference, −5.06 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, –6.76– −3.36, p<0.00001; I2=32%), decreasing diastolic blood pressure after treatment (n=464 patients; mean difference, −5.30 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, –6.27– −4.33, p<0.00001; I2=0%) and the efficacy rate (relative risk, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–1.26; p<0.00001; I2=0%).

Conclusion

Auricular therapy could be provided to patients with hypertension as an adjunct to antihypertensive drugs for lowering blood pressure value and achieving blood pressure targets.

About the contributors

JiaLiang Gao

Role: Author

Guang Chen

Role: Author

HaoQiang He

Role: Author