Table 1.
Characteristics of the studies included in this systematic review (acupuncture + metformin vs. metformin).
| No. | Study, publication year(country) | No. of patients(O/A) | Age: mean±SD or range(years) | Duration of infertility: mean±SD or range (years) | Intervention | Control | Period of treatment | Diagnostic criteria | Side effects and adverse events | Type of outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Li YC,2021 (China)21 | I:57/57 C:57/57 | I:31.42±3.22(20-40) C:31.48±3.25(21-39) | NR | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 3 months | 2018 "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome" in China | NR | pregnancy, ovulation, TCM symptom score,FPG,FINS,HOMA-IR,Blood fat. |
| 2 | Wang JY,2020 (China) 22 | I:30/30 C:30/30 | I:26.43±3.52(22-38) C:26.23±3.48(21-38) | NR | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 3 months | NR | NR | pregnancy,Sex hormone level,FPG,HOMA-IR,BMI,etc. |
| 3 | Li L,2014 (China) 23 | I:53/53 C:51/51 | I:27.10±2.50(22-40) C:25.20±1.80(21-38) | I:3.6(2.0-7.5) C:3.3(2.0-7.2) | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 6 months | Rotterdam | Gastrointestinal reaction | Sex hormone level,BBT,B-scan ultrasonography,BMI,WHR,Ferriman-Gallway,HOMA-IR,FPG,FINS,OGTT,ST,FBG,etc. |
| 4 | Zhai ZY,2017 (China) 24 | I:40/40 C:40/40 | I:23.70±2.20(20-29) C:23.10±1.90(20-28) | I:4.40±1.20(2-7) C:4.10±1.40(2-7) | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 3 months | Rotterdam | Gastrointestinal reaction,Menstrual abnormalities | ovulation,BMI,WHR,Sex hormone level,FPG,FINS, APN. |
| 5 | Peng XY,2020 (China) 25 | I:30/30 C:30/30 | I:28.42±1.32(22-32) C:28.32±1.35(22-33) | I:2.02±0.12(0.6-4) C:2.06 ± 0.11(0.6-4) | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 6 months | 2018 "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome" in China | NR | pregnancy,ovulation,Sex hormone level, B-scan ultrasonography. |
| 6 | Li SS,2015 (China) 26 | I:75/75 C:75/75 | I:25.10±2.30(23-34) C:24.10±2.20(21-33) | I:3.2(2-4) C:3.3(2-5) | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 6 months | NR | NR | pregnancy,ovulation,Sex hormone level, B-scan ultrasonography,HOMA-IR,BMI,Ferriman-Gallway,OGTT,ST. |
| 7 | Tang J,2017 (China) 27 | I:52/52 C:52/52 | I:28.53± 6.62(22-42) C:28.26±6.70(21-40) | I:3.72±1.38(1-7) C:3.41±1.52(1-8) | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | I:3 menstrual cycles C:3 months | Rotterdam | NR | pregnancy,ovulation,Total effects,BMI,FPG,Sex hormone level,FINS. |
| 8 | Zhang ZL,2016 (China) 28 | I:50/50 C:50/50 | I:26.30± 4.40(22-38) C:27.2±4.1(23-37) | I:3.2±0.6(2-7) C:3.1± 0.5(2-6) | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 6 months | Rotterdam | NR | BMI,WHR,B-scan ultrasonography,Sex hormone level,Ferriman-Gallway |
| 9 | Liu YE, 2018 (China)29 | I:138/138 C:140/140 | I:30.00±7.00(23-37) C:31.20±8.10(23-39) | I:2.35±1.65(0.7-4.0) C:2.51± 1.83(0.7-4.3) | Acupuncture+Metformin | Metformin | 2 months | Rotterdam | NR | pregnancy,ovulation,Sex hormone level,AMH,BMI,menstrual cycle,etc. |
AMH, anti-Müllerian hormone; APN, Adiponectin;BBT, basal body temperature; BMI,Body Mass Index; C, control; FINS,Fasting insulin; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; HOMA-IR, Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; I, intervention; NR, not reported; OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test; ST, insulin release test; TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine; WHR, Waist-to-Hip Ratio.