Effects of acupuncture in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review

• Published in: Revista brasileira de enfermagem Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. e20180784 - 9
• Main Authors: Melo, Geórgia Alcântara Alencar, Aguiar, Letícia Lima, Silva, Renan Alves, Pereira, Francisco Gilberto Fernandes, Silva, Fabiana Larissa Barbosa da, Caetano, Joselany Áfio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem 2020
• Subjects: Acupressure; Acupuncture; Acupuncture Therapy - methods; Acupuncture Therapy - standards; acupuntura; Chinese medicine; Chiropractic medicine; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; Electroacupuncture; enfermagem; Fatigue; Herbal medicine; Homeopathic medicine; Humans; Hypnotherapy; insuficiência renal crônica; Kidney diseases; Nurses; Nursing; Pain; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - therapy; revisão; Sleep; Systematic review; terapias complementares
• ISSN: 0034-7167; 1984-0446
• DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0784

to analyze the effects of acupuncture techniques in patients with chronic kidney disease.
a systematic review conducted in six databases, from September to December 2017, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' criteria. The following descriptors were used: Acupuncture AND Chronic Renal Insufficiency AND Clinical Trial.
nine studies were selected; the acupuncture techniques used were auriculotherapy, electroacupuncture and acupressure aimed at improving quality of life, fatigue, sleep and clinical variables of the disease. The studies that assessed quality of life, sleep and fatigue presented significant benefits. Studies that assessed quality of life, sleep and fatigue presented significant benefits. There was no statistical significance in the improvement of serum creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rate. Methodological and assessment tools' divergence made impossible meta-analysis Conclusions: studies reinforce the positive effect of acupuncture in improving quality of life, fatigue and sleep in patients.