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. 2016 Jun 28;2016(6):CD001218. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3

Comparison 1. Acupuncture vs. no acupuncture.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1 Headache frequency 4   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.1 After treatment 4 2199 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.56 [‐0.65, ‐0.48]
1.2 Follow‐up 1 284 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.36 [‐0.59, ‐0.12]
2 Response (at least 50% frequency reduction) 4   Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.1 After treatment 4 2519 Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.40 [2.08, 2.76]
2.2 Follow‐up 1 377 Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.16 [1.35, 3.45]
3 Headache frequency (various measures) 4   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 1 197 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.53 [‐0.83, ‐0.23]
3.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 4 2199 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.56 [‐0.65, ‐0.48]
3.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 0 0 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
3.4 > 6 months after randomization 1 284 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.36 [‐0.59, ‐0.12]
4 Response 4   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
4.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 1 221 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.01 [1.32, 3.07]
4.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 4 2519 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.41 [2.10, 2.78]
4.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 0 0 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4.4 > 6 months after randomization 1 377 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.16 [1.35, 3.45]
5 Migraine attacks 2   Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
5.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 1 197 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.70 [‐1.07, ‐0.33]
5.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 2 219 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.79 [‐1.12, ‐0.47]
5.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 0 0 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5.4 > 6 months after randomization 0 0 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6 Migraine days 2   Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
6.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 1 198 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐1.50 [‐2.31, ‐0.69]
6.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 2 220 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐1.75 [‐2.43, ‐1.07]
6.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 0 0 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6.4 > 6 months after randomization 0 0 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7 Headache days 3   Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
7.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 1 198 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.90 [‐2.13, 0.33]
7.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 3 2177 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐2.17 [‐2.50, ‐1.83]
7.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 0 0 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7.4 > 6 months after randomization 1 284 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐1.86 [‐3.08, ‐0.65]
8 Headache intensity 2   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
8.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 0 0 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
8.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 2 1652 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.75 [‐0.85, ‐0.65]
8.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 0 0 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
8.4 > 6 months after randomization 0 0 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9 Analgesic use 4   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
9.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 1 198 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.29 [‐0.59, 0.01]
9.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 4 581 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.52 [‐1.22, 0.18]
9.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 1 50 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.25 [‐0.82, 0.33]
9.4 > 6 months after randomization 1 301 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.02 [‐0.24, 0.21]
10 Headache scores 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Totals not selected
10.1 Up to 8 weeks/2 months after randomization 1   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.2 3 to 4 months after randomization 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.3 5 to 6 months after randomization 1   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.4 > 6 months after randomization 1   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11 Safety/acceptability 4   Odds Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
11.1 Number of participants dropping out due to adverse effects 2 260 Odds Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11.2 Number of participants not reaching primary endpoint 4 741 Odds Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.69 [0.46, 1.05]
11.3 Number of participants with serious adverse events 1 221 Odds Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.05 [0.19, 5.86]