Effect and safety of press-needle on chronic heart failure

Objective

To evaluate the effect and safety of the press-needle on chronic heart failure.

Methods

According to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, we screened 60 inpatients with chronic heart failure, from the Department of Cardiology in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, 60 cases were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) in accordance with the random number table. The control group received standard Western Medicine treatment (according to the Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure 2014 and patients' condition). The treatment group received the press-needle treatment on the basis of standard Western Medicine treatment, both treated for 3 months. Observing the 6 min walking distance (6 MWD), the score of Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), angiotensin II (Ang II), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before and after treatment.

Results

No statistical differences were found between control group and treatment group at baseline. Through self-matching test before and after treatment, the observation indexes were improved (P < 0.05). When compared with control group, 6MWD increased, the MLHFQ, NT-proBNP, Ang II decreased in treatment group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding to LVEF (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The treatment of press-needle can significantly improve exercise tolerance and quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure, but the improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction was not significant.