Author of

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  P3.05 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 475)

  • Event: WCLC 2016
  • Type: Poster Presenters Present
  • Track: Palliative Care/Ethics
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 12/07/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)

  • 18724

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    P3.05-006 - Anxiolytic Effect of Acupuncture in a Phase II Study of Acupuncture and Morphine for Dyspnoea in Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma (ID 4056)

    14:30 - 14:30  |  Author(s): R. Gunapala
    • Abstract
    • Slides

    Background:
    Anxiety is common in cancer patients. Treatments include psychological therapies, psychotropic drugs and complementary therapies including acupuncture. Evidence for acupuncture for treating anxiety in cancer patients is lacking.
    
    Methods:
    A single-centre, randomised phase II study of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or mesothelioma assessed the use of acupuncture for control of dyspnoea. One-hundred and seventy-three patients were randomised to acupuncture alone (A), morphine alone (M) or the combination (AM). Acupuncture was administered at upper sternal, thoracic paravertebral, trapezius trigger points and thumb points (LI4). Manubrial semi-permanent acupuncture studs were inserted for patient massage when symptomatic. Arm A patients received rescue morphine.
    
    Results:
    There was no statistically significant difference in the dyspnea control rate between arms. Secondary outcomes included measures of anxiety. The trial population had high levels of anxiety and depression with all patients having depression hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) score of >7 and 71.5% having anxiety HAD score of >7. VAS relaxation improved in arms A (1.06 points) and AM (1.48 points) compared to arm M (-0.19 points; p<0.001). Of those patients whom were anxious at baseline (HAD anxiety > 7), 78% of arm AM, 52% of arm A and 38% of arm M achieved a 1.5 point improvement in VAS relaxation (chi-squared p=0.002). At 7 days, the Lar anxiety score improved in arm A (1.5 points), arm AM (1.2 points) with no change in arm M (0 points, p=0.003).
    
    Conclusion:
    Acupuncture has an anxiolytic effect seen on two scoring systems in this trial. Further research in this area is warranted.
    
    

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