Summary of findings for the main comparison. Acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture for hypertension.
| Acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture | |||
|
Patient or population: people with primary hypertension Settings: outpatient Intervention: acupuncture for 6‐10 weeks Comparison: sham acupuncture for 6‐10 weeks | |||
| Outcomes |
Mean difference (95% CI) mmHg |
No of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) |
| Change in SBP shortly after last session | ‐3.4 (‐6.0 to ‐0.9) | 386 (4 studies) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low1,2,3 |
| Change in DBP shortly after last session | ‐2.0 (‐3.6 to ‐0.3) | 386 (4 studies) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low3,4 |
| *The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI: confidence interval; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; SBP: systolic blood pressure. | |||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High certainty: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate certainty: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low certainty: Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low certainty: We are very uncertain about the estimate. | |||
1Downgraded due to high risk of bias.
2Downgraded due to unexplained large heterogeneity (I2 = 76%).
3Downgraded due to small population and wide confidence intervals.
4Downgraded 2 levels due to high risk of bias.