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Complementary and alternative medicine for rheumatic diseases: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Phang, JK; Kwan, YH; Goh, H; Tan, VIC; Thumboo, J; Østbye, T; Fong, W
Published in: Complement Ther Med
April 2018

OBJECTIVES: To summarize all good quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions in patients with rheumatic diseases. METHODS: A systematic literature review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was performed. We excluded non-English language articles and abstract-only publications. Due to the large number of RCTs identified, we only include "good quality" RCTs with Jadad score of five. RESULTS: We identified 60 good quality RCTs using CAM as intervention for patients with rheumatic diseases: acupuncture (9), Ayurvedic treatment (3), homeopathic treatment (3), electricity (2), natural products (31), megavitamin therapies (8), chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (3), and energy healing therapy (1). The studies do not seem to suggest a particular type of CAM is effective for all types for rheumatic diseases. However, some CAM interventions appear to be more effective for certain types of rheumatic diseases. Acupuncture appears to be beneficial for osteoarthritis but not rheumatoid arthritis. For the other therapeutic modalities, the evidence base either contains too few trials or contains trials with contradictory findings which preclude any definitive summary. There were only minor adverse reactions observed for CAM interventions presented. CONCLUSION: We identified 60 good quality RCTs which were heterogenous in terms of interventions, disease, measures used to assess outcomes, and efficacy of CAM interventions. Evidence indicates that some CAM therapies may be useful for rheumatic diseases, such as acupuncture for osteoarthritis. Further research with larger sample size is required for more conclusive evidence regarding efficacy of CAM interventions.

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Published In

Complement Ther Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-6963

Publication Date

April 2018

Volume

37

Start / End Page

143 / 157

Location

Scotland

Related Subject Headings

  • Rheumatic Diseases
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Complementary Therapies
  • Complementary & Alternative Medicine
  • 4208 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
 

Citation

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Phang, J. K., Kwan, Y. H., Goh, H., Tan, V. I. C., Thumboo, J., Østbye, T., & Fong, W. (2018). Complementary and alternative medicine for rheumatic diseases: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med, 37, 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.03.003
Phang, Jie Kie, Yu Heng Kwan, Hendra Goh, Victoria Ie Ching Tan, Julian Thumboo, Truls Østbye, and Warren Fong. “Complementary and alternative medicine for rheumatic diseases: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med 37 (April 2018): 143–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.03.003.
Phang JK, Kwan YH, Goh H, Tan VIC, Thumboo J, Østbye T, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine for rheumatic diseases: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2018 Apr;37:143–57.
Phang, Jie Kie, et al. “Complementary and alternative medicine for rheumatic diseases: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med, vol. 37, Apr. 2018, pp. 143–57. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.03.003.
Phang JK, Kwan YH, Goh H, Tan VIC, Thumboo J, Østbye T, Fong W. Complementary and alternative medicine for rheumatic diseases: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2018 Apr;37:143–157.
Journal cover image

Published In

Complement Ther Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-6963

Publication Date

April 2018

Volume

37

Start / End Page

143 / 157

Location

Scotland

Related Subject Headings

  • Rheumatic Diseases
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Complementary Therapies
  • Complementary & Alternative Medicine
  • 4208 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine