Table 1. Participant Baseline Characteristicsa.
| Characteristics | Electroacupuncture (n = 252) |
Sham Electroacupuncture (n = 252) |
|---|---|---|
| Age, mean (SD), yb | 54.5 (8.3) | 56.2 (8.4) |
| Race | ||
| Han | 242 (96.0) | 247 (98.4) |
| Minorities | 10 (4.0) | 4 (1.6) |
| Educational level | ||
| Primary education or less | 91 (36.1) | 91 (36.1) |
| Secondary education | 148 (58.7) | 142 (56.3) |
| Tertiary education | 13 (5.2) | 19 (7.5) |
| Manner of child deliveryc | ||
| Vaginal delivery | 231 (91.7) | 228 (91.6) |
| Cesarean section | 19 (7.5) | 19 (7.6) |
| Both | 2 (0.8) | 2 (0.8) |
| Menopause | 169 (67.1) | 180 (71.4) |
| BMI, mean (SD)d | 23.9 (2.8) | 23.8 (2.6) |
| SUI duration, median (IQR), mo | 60 (31.5-117.5) | 62.5 (36-120) |
| Comorbidities | ||
| Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases | 11 (4.4) | 17 (6.7) |
| Osteoarthritis | 9 (3.6) | 4 (1.6) |
| Respiratory diseases | 5 (2.0) | 7 (2.8) |
| Metabolic disorders | 0 | 3 (1.2) |
| Other | 11 (4.4) | 7 (2.8) |
| Severity of SUIe | ||
| Mild, 1.1-9.9 g | 129 (51.2) | 132 (52.4) |
| Moderate, 10-49.9 g | 99 (39.3) | 96 (38.1) |
| Severe, ≥50 g | 24 (9.5) | 24 (9.5) |
| Amount of urine leakage measured by the 1-h pad test, g | ||
| Mean (SD) | 18.4 (23.6) | 19.1 (28.5) |
| Median (IQR) | 9.8 (3.1-22.6) | 9.3 (3.0-20.9) |
| 72-h Incontinence episodesf | ||
| Mean (SD) | 7.9 (9.1) | 7.7 (7.3) |
| Median (IQR) | 5.0 (2.0-10.0) | 5.0 (3.0-10.0) |
| ICIQ-SF score, mean (SD)g | 9.9 (3.3) | 9.8 (3.2) |
| Severity of SUIh | ||
| None | 7 (2.8) | 3 (1.2) |
| Mild | 116 (46.0) | 127 (50.6) |
| Moderate | 103 (40.9) | 104 (41.4) |
| Severe | 26 (10.3) | 17 (6.8) |
| 24-h Volume of liquid intake, median (IQR), mL | 1092 (800-1460) | 1017 (700-1500) |
| Participants using urine pads | 119 (47.4) | 107 (43.2) |
| Weekly mean No. of urine pads used (1 wk before treatment), median (IQR)i | 7.0 (3.0-9.0) | 6.0 (3.0-9.0) |
| Previous treatments for SUI within 2 wkj | 14 (5.6) | 15 (6.0) |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; ICIQ-SF, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form; IQR, interquartile range; SUI, stress urinary incontinence.
Values are reported as No. (%) unless otherwise indicated.
Three participants, aged 39 years, were included by mistake.
Three participants in the sham electroacupuncture group had no history of childbirth.
Calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
Severity of SUI (objectively based) was rated by the amount of urine leakage measured by the 1-h pad test (minimal/continent, ≤1 g).
One participant in the sham electroacupuncture group had no baseline record of 72-h incontinence episodes.
Scoring of the ICIQ-SF was additive (0 [better]-21 [worse] outcomes).
Severity of stress urinary incontinence (subjectively based) was rated by participants in the 72-hour bladder diary (none; mild, leaking several drops; moderate, soaking the underwear; severe, soaking the outerwear).
The weekly consumption of urine pads was assessed in participants who used urine pads.
Previous treatment for stress urinary incontinence mainly included pelvic floor muscle training (electroacupuncture group, n = 7; sham electroacupuncture group, n = 3), medicine and acupuncture (electroacupuncture group, n = 7; sham electroacupuncture group, n = 10),lifestyle intervention (sham electroacupuncture group, n = 2).