Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in treating patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and to establish a standardized electroacupuncture treatment protocol.

Approach:

• Trial Design: Multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial involving 336 patients with AECOPD, allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either an electroacupuncture group or a sham acupuncture group.
• Treatment Protocol: Participants will receive treatment once daily for 7 consecutive days, followed by a 13-week follow-up.
• Outcome Measures: Primary outcome: COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Secondary outcomes: Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire (CASA-Q), modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC), clinical symptom scores, number of exacerbations, and arterial blood gas analysis.

Key Findings:

• Current evidence for acupuncture's efficacy during acute exacerbation is limited and of low quality.
• Standardization in acupuncture treatment factors is lacking in previous studies.

Interpretation:

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in treating patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and to establish a standardized electroacupuncture treatment protocol.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to three centers, which may affect generalizability.
• Potential biases in participant recruitment and allocation.

Conclusion:

This study will assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for AECOPD and explore its association with airway mucus hypersecretion.

Sources:

• ClinicalTrials.gov