Effects of acupoint application therapy with Chinese medicine combined with tiotropium bromide inhalation on quality of life in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effects of acupoint application therapy with Chinese medicine combined with tiotropium bromide inhalation on quality of life in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A total of 109 patients with stable COPD admitted to People's Hospital of Gaomi from March 2019 to May 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into a control group ( n = 54) and an observation group ( n = 55). Both groups were given tiotropium bromide powder inhalation and acupoint application therapy ( Dazhui, Shenque, Feishu, Pishu, Shenshu and Zusanli). Chinese medicine ointment was applied in the observation group, but not in the control group. All patients were treated for 6 consecutive months. Before and after treatment, pulmonary function indicators [forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1), the percentage of expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1%), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV 1/FVC], modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale score, and the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score were compared between the two groups before and after treatment to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and quality of life. Results:Before and after treatment, there were no significant differences in FEV 1, FEV 1% and FEV 1/FVC between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After treatment, mMRC score and SGRQ total score in the observation group were (1.91 ± 0.27) points and (38.54 ± 8.18) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than (2.43 ± 0.33) points and (43.12 ± 7.86) points in the control group ( t = 4.93, 4.47, both P < 0.05). The number of exacerbations and the number of hospitalizations were (0.42 ± 0.09) times/6 months and (0.27 ± 0.05) times/6 months in the observation group and they were (0.69 ± 0.17) times/6 months and (0.47 ± 0.13) times/6 months in the control group. There were significant differences in these indices between the two groups ( t = 3.90, 3.85, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Acupoint application therapy with Chinese medicine combined with tiotropium bromide inhalation has a good therapeutic effect on stable COPD. The combined therapy can reduce the number of acute attacks and improve patient's quality of life. This study is scientific and innovative.