Acupuncture combined with western medicine for the treatment of hypertension: A protocol for an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a kind of cardiovascular syndrome with the main clinical manifestation of continuous increase of systemic arterial blood pressure. Hypertension coexists with other cardiovascular risk factors and is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Acupuncture is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine intervention. The antihypertensive effect of acupuncture on hypertension is based on the neuroendocrine system, characterized by multichannel and multitarget. This study aims to provide latest and updated proof of systematic review to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for hypertension. METHODS: We will systematically search 9 databases from their inceptions to February 2021. Only randomized controlled trials of acupuncture combined with western medicine in the treatment of hypertension will meet the inclusion criteria. The main outcome measures we focus on include clinical efficacy, syndrome efficacy, Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score, diastolic and systolic blood pressure changes, blood pressure variability, heart rate variability, pulse rate variability, and adverse reactions. The research screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment will be employed by 2 reviewers independently, and disagreement will be decided by a third senior reviewer. The Revman 5.3 software will be used for meta-analysis. The confidence of proof will be rated adopting grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation tool and methodological quality of this research will be assessed using assessment of multiple systematic reviews-2 and risk of bias in systematic reviews. The publication quality will be evaluated by preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). RESULTS: This systematic review (SR) will provide evidence-based medical evidence for hypertension therapy by acupuncture combined with western medicine and we will submit the findings of this SR for peer-review publication. CONCLUSIONS: This SR will provide latest and updated summary proof for assessing the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for hypertension. REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY 202150047