Acupuncture for chronic, stable angina pectoris and an investigation of the characteristics of acupoint specificity: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic stable angina pectoris (CSAP) is a common cardiovascular condition that endangers a patient's life quality and longevity. As demonstrated in several clinical trials, acupuncture is attested to be effective for CSAP. Current trials are not adequate enough to provide high-quality evidence for clinical decision making, as a result of inadequate methodology design and small sample size. Notably, stark controversy toward acupoint specificity also exists in the clinical acupuncture trials for CSAP. Therefore, we designed the present study as a randomized controlled trial primarily to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in addition to routine care among patients with CSAP. Meanwhile, we examined whether acupoint on the disease-affected meridian (DAM) is superio

SUBMITTER: Li D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3922315 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature