Effectiveness of Electro-Press Needle for Menopause-associated Hot Flashes

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Postmenopausal Symptoms; Acupuncture Therapy; Hot Flashes; Perimenopausal Disorder
• Interventions: Device: Electro Press needle

• Registration Number: NCT04995107
• Lead Sponsor: Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Brief Summary

The investigators plan to conduct the randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of electro-press needle (EPN), a novel acupuncture needle combining shallow and gentle insertion with transdermal electrical stimulation, on menopause-associated hot flash in comparison with waiting-list group among women during menopausal transition and postmenopausal periods.

Detailed Description

As the most common type of menopause-associated symptoms, hot flashes affect up to 85% of women aging between 40 and 65 years . In China, women suffer from hot flushes as long as 4 to 5 years on average, some of whom may bear the symptoms for 12 years.Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is generally recommended to relieve menopause-associated hot flashes.However, long-term usage of HRT may increase the incidence of endometrial, breast and ovarian cancer, thrombosis and strokes.Results of previous studies indicated that acupuncture might help to relieve the symptoms.There is insufficient evidence supporting its effectiveness for relieving the hot flash symptom.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-08-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-08-02
• Study First Posted: 2021-08-06
• Status Verified: 2021-12
• Study Start: 2021-12-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-12-20
• Last Update Posted: 2021-12-23
• Primary Completion: 2022-12-30
• Study Completion: 2023-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 122

Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged between 40-60 years old;

2. Scoring 14 points or more in at least one day during the one-week baseline assessment, or having an average of ≥ 7 moderate or severe heating per 24 hours recorded in HF Dairy ;

3. Fulfilling either condition mentioned below:

   1. The last menstrual period was more than 12 months ago (including 12 months);
   2. In the late menopausal transition, and has amenorrhea for more than 60 days;
   3. FSH≥25IU, and has vasomotor symptoms of HF, sweating, insomnia, migraine, or restlessness, etc.

4. Volunteer to participate in this study and sign the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Usage of HRT via transdermal administration in the previous one month, or via oral or intrauterine administration in the previous two months; usage of phytoestrogens therapy, transvaginal estrogen administration, or estrogen or progesterone injections in the previous three months;
2. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy;
3. Amenorrhea secondary to premature ovarian failure, ovarian cyst or tumor, thyroid disease, hyperprolactinemia, or Cushing's syndrome, etc.;
4. Accepted acupuncture or drugs to treat the symptoms of HF within the previous 3 months;
5. Received radiotherapy or chemotherapy before;
6. Coagulation dysfunction, or taking warfarin, heparin and other anticoagulant drugs at present;
7. Suffering from skin diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, etc.;
8. Severe hepatic and renal insufficiency;
9. Uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes or thyroid disease;
10. Diabetic neuropathy and mental illness (including depression);
11. Being pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to be pregnant during the trial;
12. Regular usage of sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs;
13. Smoking for more than 5 years (at least twenty cigarettes a day on average) , or with the problem of alcohol abuse;
14. Installation of pacemakers;
15. Poor compliance.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Electro-Press Needle group	Electro Press needle	Body acupoints of Yintang (GV29), Dazhui (GV14), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Zigong (EX-CA1), and bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6) and auricular acupoints of Heart (CO15), Chuiqian (LO4) and Shenmen (TF4) will be selected for treatment. Auricular acupoints on right and left ear will be stimulated alternatively, one side on each time.The treatment will last 40mins for each session, 3 sessions a week (ideally every other day) for a succession of 6 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
the proportion of patients with a reduction of 50% or more on the mean 24-hour HF score from baseline	week 6	The mean 24-hour HF score = (1 × number of mild HF + 2 × number of moderate HF + 3 × number of severe HF + 4 × number of very severe HF)/Number of days reported.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The proportion of participants with a reduction of 50% or more on the mean 24-hour HF score from baseline	week 3,18,30	The mean 24-hour HF score = (1 × number of mild HF + 2 × number of moderate HF + 3 × number of severe HF + 4 × number of very severe HF)/Number of days reported.
The proportion of participants with a reduction of 50% or more in the mean 24-hour HF frequency from baseline	week 3,6,18,30	The mean 24-hour HF frequency = total number of HF reported/Number of days reported.
The changes in the mean 24-h HF score from baseline	week 3,6,18,30	The mean 24-hour HF score = (1 × number of mild HF + 2 × number of moderate HF + 3 × number of severe HF + 4 × number of very severe HF)/Number of days reported.
The proportion of patients with at least a 50% reduction in the mean 24-hour HF severity from baseline	week 3,6,18,30	The mean 24-hour HF severity = (1 × number of mild HF + 2 × number of moderate HF + 3 × number of severe HF + 4 × number of very severe HF)/ Number of HF reported.
TThe change of Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) score from baseline	week 6, 18 and 30	MENQOL consists of 29 items assessing four domains: VMS, physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, and urogenital/sexual symptoms,with 4 as minimal clinically important differences(MCID).
The change of Menopause rating scale (MRS) score from baseline	week6, 18 and 30	MRS is a common menopause specific subscale, including 11 items from psychological, somatic to urogenital, with 5 as minimal clinically important differences(MCID).
The proportion of participants reporting "significantly reduced" or "moderately reduced" based on Global Response Assessment (GRA)	week 3 ,6, 18 and 30	The response of participants to the treatments are divided into seven grades by GRA: significantly reduced, moderately reduced, slightly reduced, no change, slightly aggravated, moderately aggravated and significantly aggravated. The proportion of participants reporting "significantly reduced" or "moderately reduced" are recorded as the response rate of the overall efficacy.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital; 🇨🇳 Beijing, Beijing, China