Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies.
| Study | Diagnostic criteria | Mean age (y) | Men (%) | Sample size (T/C) | Disease duration (T/C) | Acupuncture | Control type | Outcomes | Measurement time points | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Course (d) | Retention (min) | Frequency (t/w) | De-qi response | |||||||||
| Cao et al. (2014) | DSM-IV | 65 | 60 | 40/40 | NR | MA | 28 | 30 | 6 | √ | Nicergoline | HDS | 4w |
| Chen et al. (2020) | VASCO | 64.9 | 59 | 28/28 | NR | MA (SA) + Donepezil | 28 | 30 | 12 | NR | Donepezil | MoCA, ADLS | 4w |
| Chen et al. (2009) | DSM-IV | 68.4 | 50 | 33/33 | 26.5/26.1m | MA | 30 | 30 | 7 | √ | Monosialotetrahexosylganglioside Sodium | HDS | 30d |
| Chen et al. (2015) | DSM-IV | 66 | 55 | 38/37 | 3.7/4.1y | MA + Oxiracetam | 30 | 30 | 7 | NR | Oxiracetam | MMSE | 30d |
| Cheng et al. (2018) | NINDS-AIREN | 67 | 47 | 25/26 | NR | MA | 90 | NR | 6 | √ | Donepezil | MMSE | 90d |
| Chu et al. (2008) | NINDS-AIREN | 67.9 | 58 | 32/33 | 4.9/5.2m | MA (SA) + Duxil | 56 | 600 | 5 | √ | Duxil | MMSE, HDS, ADLS | 8w |
| Cui et al. (2015) | DSM-IV | 67 | 53 | 30/30 | 4.9/5m | MA + Nimodipine | 28 | 40 | 6 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE | 4w |
| Feng et al. (2019) | NINDS-AIREN | 64.1 | 67 | 47/47 | 7.6/6.4m | MA + Butylphthalide | 56 | 30 | 7 | NR | Butylphthalide | MMSE | 8w |
| Hu et al. (2019) | DSM-IV | 67.5 | 53 | 44/44 | 2.5/2.8y | MA (SA) + Oxiracetam | 56 | NR | 6 | √ | Oxiracetam | MMSE, BI | 8w |
| Huang et al. (1992) | ICD-10 | NR | 75 | 18/18 | NR | MA + Citicoline | 15 | NR | 7 | NR | Citicoline | HDS | 15d |
| Jiang et al. (2003) | DSM-IV | NR | 59 | 23/23 | NR | EA | 28 | 30 | 5 | √ | Nimodipine | HDS, BI | 4w |
| Jiang et al. (2019) | VASCO | 58 | 57 | 30/30 | NR | EA + Usual care | 56 | 45 | 5 | √ | Usual care | MMSE, MoCA, BI | 8w |
| Li et al. (2019) | DSM-IV | 67.2 | 50 | 40/40 | 89.4/90.6d | MA + Donepezil | 42 | 30 | 5 | √ | Donepezil | MMSE, MoCA, BI | 6w |
| Li and Jiao (2014) | DSM-IV | 66.8 | 54 | 50/50 | 32.3/30.7 | MA | 84 | 30 | 5 | NR | Oxiracetam | MMSE, ADLS, ADAS-cog | 12w |
| Li P. et al. (2012) | NINDS-AIREN | NR | 56 | 50/50 | NR | MA | 28 | 40 | 6 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE, HDS, BI | 4w |
| Li S. et al. (2012) | DSM-IV | 63 | 51 | 40/40 | 10.5/10.8y | MA (SA) | 35 | 30 | 5.6 | NR | Citicoline | MMSE, BI | 35d |
| Li et al. (2014) | NINDS-AIREN | 64 | 51 | 30/30 | 10.7/10.5y | MA | 14 | 45 | 7 | NR | Aniracetam | MMSE, BI | 14d |
| Li W. et al. (2012) | NINDS-AIREN | 68.7 | 58 | 50/50 | 13.3/12.3m | EA + Nimodipine | 90 | 30 | 5 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE, HDS, BI | 90d |
| Li et al. (2009) | DSM-IV | 62.8 | 57 | 30/30 | NR | MA | 70 | 30 | 6 | √ | Duxil | HDS | 10w |
| Lin et al. (2012) | DSM-IV | 64 | 60 | 20/20 | NR | EA | 28 | 30 | 6 | √ | Oxiracetam | MMSE, ADLS | 4w |
| Liu et al. (2006) | DSM-IV | 69.5 | NR | 20/20/20 | NR | MA + Nimodipine MA | 32 | 45 | 6.5 | √ | Nimodipine | HDS, BI, MMSE | 30d |
| Liu Y. et al. (2008) | DSM-IV | 65 | 64 | 54/54 | NR | MA (SA) | 35 | 30 | 6 | NR | Nimodipine | MMSE, HDS, ADLS | 30d |
| Liu Z. B. et al. (2008) | DSM-IV | 68 | 52 | 30/30 | 5.7/4.7m | EA | 70 | NR | 5 | √ | Duxil | MMSE, HDS, FAQ | 10w |
| Luo et al. (2015) | NINDS-AIREN | 71.7 | 45 | 36/36 | 1.3/1.3y | MA | 56 | 30 | 3.5 | NR | Donepezil hydrochloride | MMSE | 8w |
| Meng et al. (2020) | VASCO | 65.4 | 56 | 61/61 | NR | MA + Donepezil | 28 | 30 | 6 | √ | Donepezil | MMSE, MoCA, BI | 4w |
| Meng et al. (2009) | DSM-IV | 66.9 | 58 | 30/30 | NR | MA | 30 | 40 | 7 | √ | Nimodipine | HDS, MMSE | 30d |
| Mo et al. (2000a) | DSM-IV | 65.8 | 63 | 30/30 | NR | EA | 42 | 30 | 5 | √ | Dihydroergotoxine mesylate | HDS, BI, FAQ | 6w |
| Mo et al. (2000b) | DSM-IV | 65.3 | 60 | 31/31 | NR | EA | 42 | 30 | 5 | √ | Dihydroergotoxine mesylate | HDS, BI, FAQ | 6w |
| Niu and Liu (2007) | DSM-IV | 67 | 38 | 30/30 | 8.6/7.7m | MA (SA) | 70 | 360 | 5 | NR | Duxil | HDS | 10w |
| Pan and Ai (2013) | DSM-IV | NR | NR | 30/30 | NR | MA (SA) + Usual care | 70 | 30 | 5 | √ | Usual care | MMSE, HDS | 10w |
| Qu et al. (2020) | DSM-IV | 65.9 | 60 | 30/30 | 2.42/2.98y | MA + Oxiracetam | 28 | 30 | 12 | √ | Oxiracetam | MMSE, MoCA, BI | 4w |
| Shi et al. (2009) | DSM-IV | 62.4 | 54 | 31/31 | 15.8/15.8m | MA + Citicoline | 56 | 0 | 6 | NR | Citicoline | MMSE, ADLS | 8w |
| Tan et al. (2017) | DSM-IV | 66.7 | 60 | 30/30 | 72.5/81.4d | MA | 30 | 30 | 7 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE | 30d |
| Teng and Lai (2012) | DSM-IV | 66 | 62 | 25/28 | 2.1/1.9y | MA + Duxil | 30 | 30 | 6 | NR | Duxil | MMSE, BI | 30d |
| Wang and Wang (2017a) | NINDS-AIREN | 68.1 | 51 | 60/60 | 5.7/6.2y | MA + Usual care | 28 | 20 | 6 | √ | Usual care | MMSE, HDS, BI | 4w |
| Wang and Wang (2017b) | NINDS-AIREN | 69.3 | 59 | 40/40 | 8.4/8.3y | MA + Usual care | 36 | 30 | 7 | √ | Usual care | MMSE, BI | 36d |
| Wang and Wang (2017c) | NINDS-AIREN | 66.2 | 48 | 43/43 | 5.1/5.2y | MA + Usual care | 90 | 20 | 7 | √ | Usual care | MMSE, BI | 90d |
| Xiong et al. (2020) | VASCO | 64.2 | 53 | 35/35 | 2.1/2.5m | MA (SA) + Usual care | 56 | 240 | 6 | NR | Usual care | MMSE, ADLS | 8w |
| Yang et al. (2019) | VASCO | 65.4 | 35 | 108/108 | NR | MA | 84 | 30 | 2 | √ | Citicoline | ADAS-cog, ADLS | 90d |
| Yang et al. (2016) | DSM-IV | 67.6 | 62 | 60/60 | 1.3/1.2y | MA + Nicergoline | 84 | NR | 5 | NR | Nicergoline | ADLS, ADAS-cog | 12w |
| Yao R. et al. (2020) | VASCO | 56 | 67 | 30/30 | 2.5/2.4m | MA (SA) + Usual care | 28 | NR | 6 | NR | Usual care | MMSE, MoCA | 4w |
| Yin et al. (2011) | DSM-IV | 62.6 | 58 | 30/30 | 1.6/1.6y | EA | 84 | 30 | 5 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE | 12w |
| Zhang et al. (2008) | DSM-IV | 64.5 | 65 | 90/90/90 | NR | EA + Nimodipine EA | 42 | 30 | 5 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE, ADLS | 6w |
| Zhang et al. (2015) | DSM-IV | NR | 53 | 20/20 | NR | MA | 28 | 40 | 6 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE, ADLS | 4w |
| Zhang et al. (2019) | DSM-IV | 58.4 | 43 | 41/41 | 1.42/1.36y | MA | 56 | 20 | 12 | √ | Donepezil | MoCA, BI | 8w |
| Zhao et al. (2000) | DSM-IV | 61 | 54 | 36/32 | 6.5/6.5m | EA | 30 | 20 | 7 | √ | Hydergine | MMSE | 30d |
| Zhao et al. (2009) | DSM-IV | NR | NR | 30/30/30 | NR | EA + Nimodipine EA | 42 | 30 | 5 | √ | Nimodipine | MMSE | 6w |
| Zhao and Xu (2013) | NINDS-AIREN | 63.8 | 72 | 30/30 | 1.4/1.4m | MA | 70 | 30 | 6 | √ | Duxil | MMSE, ADLS | 60d |
ADAS-cog, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale; ADLS, Activities of Daily Living Scale; BI, Barthel Index; DSM-IV, 4th edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; EA, electroacupuncture; FAQ, Functional Activities Questionnaire; HDS, Hasegawa's Dementia Scale; ICD-10, 10th revision of International Classification of Diseases; MA, manual acupuncture; MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; NINDS-AIREN, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; NR, no report; SA, scalp acupuncture; VASCO, diagnostic criteria for vascular behavioral and cognitive disorders.