Moxibustion as an Adjuvant Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 23 Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion for chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Nine databases were searched to identify relevant evidence up to March 8, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that tested moxibustion + basic treatments versus basic treatments alone for patients with CKD and reported, at least, one of the outcomes of interest were included. In the meta-analyses, the mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the effect size. RESULTS: Twenty-three RCTs (n = 1571) with a moderate to high risk of bias were included. The pooled estimates showed that compared with the controls, patients after moxibustion had a significant reduction in serum creatinine (MD −17.34 μmol/L, 95% CI −28.44 to −6.23; I(2) = 87%), 24-hour urine protein excretion (MD −0.75 g/h, 95% CI −1.07 to −0.42; I(2) = 84%), and blood urea nitrogen (MD −0.63 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.09 to −0.18; I(2) = 37%) and a significant improvement in the quality of life (MD 10.18, 95% CI 3.67 to 16.69; I(2) = 57%). Moxibustion did not show a significant effect on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), creatinine clearance, or hemoglobin. The subgroup analyses showed that a longer course of moxibustion (>8 weeks) and indirect moxibustion had a greater effect on reducing serum creatinine. The effect of moxibustion on blood urea nitrogen changed to be nonsignificant after excluding RCTs with a high risk of bias (MD −0.96 mmol/L, 95% CI −2.96 to 1.03). Only one adverse event of burn was reported. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review suggests that, as an adjuvant therapy, moxibustion may improve serum creatinine, urinary protein excretion, blood urea nitrogen, and quality of life in patients with CKD. Moxibustion may not have effects on eGFR, creatinine clearance, or hemoglobin. The quality of evidence is weakened by the limitations of risk of bias, heterogeneity, and imprecision.