OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture in the prevention of recurrent lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in adult women. DESIGN: A controlled clinical trial with three arms: an acupuncture group, a sham-acupuncture group, and an untreated control group. Patients were followed for 6 months. SETTING: An acupuncture clinic in Bergen, Norway. SUBJECTS:Sixty-seven adult women with a history of recurrent lower UTI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute lower UTIs during the 6-month observation period. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent were free of lower UTI during the 6-month observation period in the acupuncture group, compared with 58% in the sham group (p < 0.05), and 36% in the control group (p < 0.01). There were half as many episodes of lower UTI per person-half-year in the acupuncture group as in the sham group, and a third as many as in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Acupuncture seems a worthwhile alternative in the prevention of recurring lower UTI in women.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture in the prevention of recurrent lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in adult women. DESIGN: A controlled clinical trial with three arms: an acupuncture group, a sham-acupuncture group, and an untreated control group. Patients were followed for 6 months. SETTING: An acupuncture clinic in Bergen, Norway. SUBJECTS: Sixty-seven adult women with a history of recurrent lower UTI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute lower UTIs during the 6-month observation period. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent were free of lower UTI during the 6-month observation period in the acupuncture group, compared with 58% in the sham group (p < 0.05), and 36% in the control group (p < 0.01). There were half as many episodes of lower UTI per person-half-year in the acupuncture group as in the sham group, and a third as many as in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture seems a worthwhile alternative in the prevention of recurring lower UTI in women.
Authors: Terje Alraek; Liv Inger Fosli Soedal; Siri Urnes Fagerheim; Asbjørn Digranes; Anders Baerheim Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 9.308