Acupuncture Study on Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS)

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.

Study Overview

China: A recent study showed 20 sessions of acupuncture over 8 weeks to be more effective for improving symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) compared to sham therapy. The durable effects of acupuncture lasted for 24 weeks after the treatment. The study appears in Annals of Internal Medicine.

About CP/CPPS

CP/CPPS manifests discomfort or pain in the pelvic region for at least 3 of the previous 6 months without evidence of infection. Lower urinary tract symptoms, psychological issues, and sexual dysfunction may also be involved. Men with CP/CPPS may have a poor quality of life due to the many neuropsychophysiologic pathophysiology factors associated with the disorder, such as:

• Inflammation in the prostate
• Anxiety and stress
• Dyssynergic voiding

Antibiotics, a-blockers, and anti-inflammatories are the mainstays of treatment in clinical practice, but they have limited effectiveness and are associated with adverse events with long-term use. Acupuncture has shown promise as an alternative treatment, but high-quality evidence is scarce.

Research Methodology

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.

Findings

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.

Conclusion

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