Effects of Acupuncture on Lowering Blood Pressure in Postmenopausal Women with Prehypertension or Stage 1 Hypertension: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Abstract

Postmenopausal women have a higher prevalence of hypertension compared to premenopausal women. Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the prevalence of which is ever increasing. This study investigated the effects of long-term acupuncture on lowering the blood pressure of postmenopausal women with prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension. Participants were 122 postmenopausal women aged less than 65 years, diagnosed with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension (systolic blood pressure 120–159 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure 80–99 mmHg). We used a propensity score-matched design. The experimental group (n = 61) received acupuncture for four weeks every six months over a period of two years. The control group (n = 61) received no intervention. An Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for the primary efficacy analysis. Relative risk ratios were used to compare group differences in treatment effects. Acupuncture significantly reduced the participants’ diastolic blood pressure (−9.92 mmHg; p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (−10.34 mmHg; p < 0.001) from baseline to follow-up. The results indicate that acupuncture alleviates hypertension in postmenopausal women, reducing their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and improving their health and quality of life.

The application of acupuncture in cardiopathy: A bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science across ten recent years

“…Due to the characteristics of acute onset, severe condition, and high mortality of cardiovascular diseases, as a complementary and alternative therapy, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in cardiovascular diseases has been neglected in the past. In recent years, with the development of the mechanism of acupuncture in analgesia, anti-inflammatory and nerve regulation ( 7 – 9 ), and effects in withdrawal syndrome ( 17 ), weight loss ( 18 ), and blood pressure regulation ( 19 ), acupuncture has become a potential therapeutic method for reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors, reducing the number of acute attacks, improving the results of electrocardiography, and alleviating anxiety and depression ( 20 ). This could explain the slow development progress of this field in the past, but the trend of steady growth augurs well for the future.…”

“…Several clinical trials have proven that acupuncture therapies [including abdominal acupuncture ( 22 ), auricular acupuncture ( 22 , 23 ), electroacupuncture ( 24 ), and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation ( 25 )] have therapeutic effects on multiple types of hypertension [prehypertension and mild hypertension ( 26 , 27 ), renal failure-induced hypertension ( 28 ), hypertension in stroke patients ( 29 , 30 ), and hypertension in perimenopausal women ( 19 , 31 )]. However, more than 5 meta-analyses suggested that, subject to a high risk of bias, undesirable sham acupuncture control and insufficient treatment and follow-up period, there was no evidence for the sustained blood pressure lowering effect of acupuncture, which is required for the long-term management of chronic hypertension ( 32 – 37 ).…”

“…Due to the characteristics of acute onset, severe condition, and high mortality of cardiovascular diseases, as a complementary and alternative therapy, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in cardiovascular diseases has been neglected in the past. In recent years, with the development of the mechanism of acupuncture in analgesia, anti-inflammatory and nerve regulation (7)(8)(9), and effects in withdrawal syndrome (17), weight loss (18), and blood pressure regulation (19), acupuncture has become a potential Network map of co-authorship between authors about acupuncture on cardiopathy. (20).…”

Effect Of Complementary Therapy On Hypertension Patients: Systematic Review

“…Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is more common in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. In postmenopausal women, long-term acupuncture treatment is a useful treatment for high blood pressure and is effective in reducing the prevalence of high blood pressure (Seo et al, 2021).…”