Acupuntura como terapia integrativa para pacientes inférteis em tratamento com fertilização in vitro: um ensaio clínico controlado randomizado

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the increasing search for complementary and integrative health practices (PICS), few randomized studies have evaluated the effect of acupuncture on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with infertility. Objective: To evaluate acupuncture as an integrative therapy to improve quality of life in infertile patients receiving in vitro fertilization treatment. Methods: An open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted. Patients about to initiate in vitro fertilization treatment were randomized into two groups: group 1 in which patients received integrative treatment with acupuncture and group 2 (control) without the use of acupuncture. The WHOQOL-bref, SHORT FORM 36 questionnaires were used for the analysis of general QOL and FERTIQOL for QOL analysis aimed at infertile patients at baseline prior to randomization, and after 8 to 10 weeks of treatment or clinical observation. In addition, the questionnaire for the evaluation of depression, stress and anxiety (DASS-21) was used. Results: A significant reduction in median values for anxiety, stress and depression after intervention in the acupuncture group was observed, with statistical significance (p <0.05). In the control group, there was also a reduction in the median value of stress, but this did not present statistical significance. On the quality of life studied through the WHOQOL-Bref, the only statistically significant result was the increase in the social aspects domain of the acupuncture group. And through SHORT FORM 36 improvement was observed in all items but with statistical significance in the physical domain in the final comparison of acupuncture control and in 5 out of eight domains when comparing the before and after in the acupuncture group. The FERTIQOL questionnaire demonstrated improvement in all domains but with statistical significance in two of them. Conclusion: The improvement of quality of life depends on which domain of quality of life questionnaire used. The integrative use of acupuncture significantly improved the levels of anxiety, stress and depression of these patients.