Presentation summary

Introduction :
Research on acupuncture has expanded significantly in recent decades, making it increasingly difficult to track evidence on its effectiveness for various medical conditions. Previous comparative review sassessed studies published between 2005 and 2017. This review examines systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SR/MA) on acupuncture for all medical conditions from 2017 to 2022.

Methods :
We searched PubMed using the term “acupuncture,” selecting only SR/MA. Studies were categorized by medical disciplines and specific conditions. Each SR/MA was assessed for quality of review (QoR), quality of data (QoD), and quality of evidence (QoE). Findings were grouped into four categories: (i)positive effect, (ii) potential positive effect, (iii) insufficient/unclear evidence, and (iv) no effect or evidence of no effect.

Results :
After applying exclusion criteria, 862 SR/MA remained, covering 184 medical conditions. Evidence ofa positive effect was found for ten conditions : chronic pain, low-back pain, knee osteoarthritis, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), migraine, tension-type headache, cancer-related fatigue, menopausal symptoms, female infertility (as an adjunct to reproductive treatment), and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men. Additionally, 82 conditions showed evidence of a potential positive effect, 86 had unclear or insufficient evidence, and six had no evidence of effect or evidence of no effect.

Discussion and Conclusion :
Between 2017 and 2022, both the quantity and quality of acupuncture research improved. Of 184 conditions reviewed, ten had strong evidence of effectiveness, while 82 showed potentialbenefits. However, for 86 conditions, evidence remained insufficient, and six showed no effect. Despite improvements in evidence quality, inconsistencies persist due to variability in study design. Future research should adhere to guidelines like STRICTA and CONSORT to enhance reliability and comparability.