NCT05997992

Clinical Efficacy Evaluation of Electroacupuncture as Adjuvant Therapy for Female Patients With Overactive Bladder

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 20 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Overactive bladder (OAB) is often accompanied by frequent urination and nocturia, and does not necessarily manifest as urge incontinence. Urgency to urinate and frequent urination can lead to psychological burdens, affect interpersonal relationships and reduce women's quality of life. Treatment of OAB includes lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy, drug therapy, neuromodulation, botulinum toxin therapy, and surgical intervention. At present, anticholinergic drugs are usually the first-line treatment for OAB, but the side effects of dry mouth often lead to poor patient compliance. Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a minimally invasive neuromodulation technique. Past studies have confirmed that PTNS has clinical efficacy in treating symptoms related to overactive bladder, while TCM's electroacupuncture is similar to PTNS. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the specific acupoints in accordance with traditional Chinese medicine theory in women with OAB under conventional Western medicine treatment to evaluate the improvement of women's related urinary tract symptoms, quality of life and autonomic nervous system function.

Detailed description

Overactive bladder (OAB) is often accompanied by frequent urination and nocturia, and does not necessarily manifest as urge incontinence. Urgency to urinate and frequent urination can lead to psychological burdens, affect interpersonal relationships and reduce women's quality of life. Treatment of OAB includes lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy, drug therapy, neuromodulation, botulinum toxin therapy, and surgical intervention. At present, anticholinergic drugs are usually the first-line treatment for OAB, but the side effects of dry mouth often lead to poor patient compliance. Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a minimally invasive neuromodulation technique. Past studies have confirmed that PTNS has clinical efficacy in treating symptoms related to overactive bladder, while TCM's electroacupuncture is similar to PTNS. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the specific acupoints in accordance with traditional Chinese medicine theory in women with OAB under conventional Western medicine treatment to evaluate the improvement of women's related urinary tract symptoms, quality of life and autonomic nervous system function.

Conditions

• Overactive Bladder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	electroacupuncture	Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles. According to some acupuncturists, this practice augments the use of regular acupuncture, can restore health and well-being, and is particularly good for treating pain.
DEVICE	sham acupuncture	Acupuncture does not penetrate the skin, and the electroacupuncture machine is not plugged in.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-01-11
• Primary completion: 2023-12-31
• Completion: 2025-12-31
• First posted: 2023-08-18
• Last updated: 2025-06-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan