Acupuncture effectively improves symptoms in chronic prostatitis patients: Study

Researchers from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences randomly assigned 440 male participants (220 in each group) to either 8 weeks of acupuncture or sham therapy to assess the long-term efficacy of acupuncture for improving symptoms of CP/CPPS. The treatment was considered effective if participants achieved a clinically important reduction of at least 6 points from baseline on the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index at weeks 8 and 32. Ascertainment of sustained efficacy required the between-group difference to be statistically significant at both time points.

The researchers found that compared with the sham acupuncture group, larger proportions of participants in the acupuncture group reported marked or moderate improvements in symptoms at all assessment points. No significant difference was found in changes in the International Index of Erectile Function 5 score at all assessment time points or in peak and average urinary flow rates at week 8. No serious adverse events were reported in either group.

According to the researchers, these findings show the long-term efficacy of acupuncture and provide high-quality evidence for clinical practice and guideline recommendations.

Reference:

The study titled, "Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome," is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. 

DOI: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-1814