Clinical Efficacy of Electroacupuncture at Sacral Four Points Combined with Moxibustion at Abdominal Three Points for Treating Post-Stroke Urinary Incontinence: Observations on Urodynamics, Quality of Life, and Safety.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is a common complication following a stroke. No specific drugs are available in Western medicine, and surgical treatment is highly traumatic, limiting its clinical application. This study aimed to observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at the "Sacral Four Points" combined with moxibustion at the "Abdominal Three Points" on post-stroke urinary incontinence, exploring its impact on urodynamics and quality of life. METHODS: Patients with post-stroke urinary incontinence treated at our Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were recruited. The study included 117 patients 57 in the electroacupuncture group and 60 in the combined group. Urodynamic parameters were measured, and scores from the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) and the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL) were recorded before, and after the first and third courses of treatment. Clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated post-treatment. RESULTS: The study found no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the groups (p > 0.05), providing a baseline for comparison. Both groups showed substantial decreases in leakage volume after one course of treatment (p < 0.05), with a reduction in the ICIQ-UI SF score (p < 0.05) and an increase in the I-QOL score (p < 0.05). After three courses of treatment, the leakage volume of patients in both groups significantly decreased (p < 0.05), the ICIQ-UI SF score decreased (p < 0.05), and the I-QOL score increased (p < 0.05). The combined group showed a lower leakage volume compared to the electroacupuncture group (p < 0.05), with lower ICIQ-UI SF scores (p = 0.027) and higher I-QOL scores (p = 0.048). Importantly, the total effective rate was significantly higher in the combined group (88.33% vs 64.91%, p = 0.037), demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture at the "Sacral Four Points" combined with moxibustion at the "Abdominal Three Points" improves the clinical symptoms and enhances the quality of life for patients with post-stroke urinary incontinence, showing superior results compared to electroacupuncture alone.