Acupuncture of chronic headache disorders in primary care: randomised controlled trial and economic analysis
Vickers A J, Rees R W, Zollman C E, McCarney R, Smith C M, Ellis N, et al
Record ID 32004000841
English
Authors' objectives:
The primary objective was to determine the effects of a policy of 'use acupuncture', compared with a policy of 'avoid acupuncture', on headache in primary care patients with chronic headache disorders. Secondary objectives were to determine the effects of using acupuncture compared with avoiding acupuncture on medication use, quality of life, resource use and days off sick in this population and to determine the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture.
Authors' results and conclusions:
Headache score at 12 months, the primary end-point, was lower in the acupuncture group (mean 16.2, SD 13.7, n = 161, 34% reduction from baseline) than in controls (22.3, SD 17.0, n = 140, 16% reduction from baseline). The adjusted difference between means was 4.6 (95% confidence interval 2.2 to 7.0, p = 0.0002). This result is robust to sensitivity analysis incorporating imputation for missing data. Patients in the acupuncture group experienced the equivalent of 22 fewer days of headache per year (8 to 38). SF-36 data favoured acupuncture, although differences reached significance only for physical role functioning, energy and change in health. Compared with controls, patients randomised to acupuncture used 15% less medication (p = 0.02), made 25% fewer visits to GPs (p = 0.10) and took 15% fewer days off sick (p = 0.2).
Authors' recommendations:
The results of the study suggest that acupuncture leads to persisting, clinically relevant benefits for primary care patients with chronic headache, particularly migraine. It is relatively cost-effective compared with a number of other interventions provided by the NHS.
Authors' methods:
Randomised controlled trial, Economic evaluation
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.hta.ac.uk1083
Year Published:
2004
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
- Acupuncture Therapy
- Costs and Cost Analysis
- Headache
- Headache Disorders
Contact
Organisation Name:
NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
Contact Address:
NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name:
journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email:
journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright:
2009 Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.