Combination Electroacupuncture and Guidelines Directed Medical Therapy Maintained Stability of Heart Rate and Mean Arterial Pressure in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) has therapeutic and modulatory effects on managing heart failure (HF) risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the impact of combination drugs and EA on chronic HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) to maintain a stable heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-blind clinical randomized controlled trial included 42 patients with chronic HFrEF. The patients were divided into 3 groups: patients taking drugs and EA, patients taking drugs and sham EA (sham acupuncture [SA]), and patients taking drugs without EA. All patients underwent 16 sessions of therapy for 8 weeks.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the average MAP based on therapy duration in the drugs + EA group, whereas there was no significant difference between drugs + SA and drugs without EA groups. There was a substantial difference between the average MAP in the drugs + EA group at the beginning of therapy compared with that at midtherapy ( P  < 0.05) and at the beginning of treatment and at the end of therapy ( P  < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean HR between the groups. Clinically, after 16 treatment sessions, patients receiving combined drugs and EA treatment presented with stable MAP and HR.

CONCLUSIONS: Drugs combined with EA maintained the stability of MAP and HR in patients with chronic HFrEF.