Moxibustion for Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:A systematic review
and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: This study was performed to strictly evaluate the quality of
RCTs and thus test the effect of moxibustion on CPID. Methods: Seven
databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge
Infrastructure, WangFang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database,
Chinese Biomedical Literatures Database were reviewed for RCTs on CPID
treated by moxibustion up to September 2020. Methodological quality and
evidence level was assessed on the basis of the RoB tool from Cochrane
collaboration and the GRADE instrument, respectively. RevMan5.4.1 and
Stata 12.0 software were used for further meta-analysis.Results: A total
of 17 RCTs were included (1315 participants, 515 treated by moxibustion
and 515 treated by control therapy). The meta-analysis showed that, in
comparison to control group, moxibustion had a higher total effective
rate (RR = 1.21; 95% CI [1.31, 1.29]; P = 0.007; I2 = 53%); and
lower total symptom score (MD = -3.72; 95% CI [-4.38, -3.06]; P
=0.02; I2 = 66%). As for the total sign score, the participants treated
by moxibustion had lower scores than those treated by control
therapy(SMD = -0.72; 95% CI [ -1.07, -0.37]; P = 0.36; I2 = 0%).
For the VAS score, pelvic fluid and inflammatory factor level, only one
trial showed that there was a significant effect, respectively.
Conclusions: This study shows that moxibustion is more effective and
safe for CPID. The findings we obtained must be interpreted with caution
due to universal low quality and low evidence level of the eligible
trials.