ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy combined with rhubarb applied to the umbilicus in the treatment of constipation in patients with stage IV-V diabetic nephropathy.Methods:Ninety stage IV-V diabetic nephropathy patients with constipation, who received treatment in Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2019 to December 2020, were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to receive either routine treatment (control group, n = 45) or routine treatment plus acupuncture therapy combined with rhubarb applied to the umbilicus (study group, n = 45). Serum motilin, gastrin, and somatostatin levels and orocecal transit time pre- and post-treatment were compared between the two groups. The constipation severity was evaluated using the Constipation Severity Scale (CSS). Quality of life was evaluated using the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire. Clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. Results:The somatostatin level and orocecal transit time post-treatment in the study group were (13.66 ± 4.24) ng/L and (80.58 ± 10.11) minutes, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(19.31 ± 6.13) ng/L, (87.16 ± 12.04) minutes, t = 5.08, 2.80, both P < 0.05]. Serum motilin and gastrin levels post-treatment in the study group were (281.07 ± 41.16) ng/L and (181.07 ± 35.16) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(259.64 ± 39.83) ng/L, (162.65 ± 32.83) ng/L, t = 2.51, 2.56, both P < 0.05]. The scores of the Constipation Severity Scale and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire post-treatment in the study group were (10.66 ± 3.14) points and (60.14 ± 13.64) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [ (15.31 ± 4.13) points, (71.61 ± 14.72) points, t = 6.01, 3.83, both P < 0.05). Total response rate was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (97.78% vs. 80.00%, χ2 = 5.51, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy combined with rhubarb applied to the umbilicus can be used to treat constipation in patients with stage IV-V diabetic nephropathy. The combined therapy can adjust the secretion of gastrointestinal tract-related hormones, shorten orocecal transit time, improve clinical symptoms, and improve clinical efficacy and quality of life.