Summary of findings for the main comparison. Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for menopausal hot flushes.
Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for menopausal hot flushes | ||||
Population: women with menopausal hot flushes Intervention: acupuncture versus sham acupuncture | ||||
Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | No of Participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments |
Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture | ||||
Hot flush frequency (number/day) | The mean hot flush frequency in the intervention groups was 1.13 flushes per day lower (2.55 lower to 0.29 higher) | 414 (8 studies) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low1,2 | There was no significant difference between the groups in the mean number of hot flushes per day |
Hot flush severity | The mean hot flush severity in the intervention groups was 0.45 standard deviations lower (0.84 to 0.05 lower) | 297 (6 studies) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low3,4 | Hot flushes were significantly less severe in the acupuncture group. The size of the effect was small. SMD ‐0.45 (‐0.84 to ‐0.05) |
*The basis for the assumed risk is the median control group risk across studies. 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; SMD: standardized mean difference. | ||||
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: 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 quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate. |
1 Only 2/8 studies described appropriate methods of randomization and allocation concealment, one of which had very high attrition. 2 Heterogeneity 70%. 3 Heterogeneity 68%. 4 Small total sample (n = 297).