Computer electroacupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: efficacy and search for efficacy predictors

Non-pharmacological treatment modalities, in particular, a new technique in reflexology - computerized electroacupuncture (CEAP), allow us to increase the efficacy while treating patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Search for predictors of CEAP efficacy in IBS will optimize the choice of patients for treatment, improving the CEAP efficacy profile. The aim of the study is to evaluate CEAP efficacy in the complex therapy of various clinical IBS forms. Materials and Methods. The study involved 80 IBS patients. Patients of the main group underwent three courses of CEAP in addition to standard pharmacological therapy, patients of the reference group received only pharmacotherapy. At the beginning and at the end of each CEAP course, the severity of pain syndrome (visual analogue scale), stool frequency, stool consistency (Bristol stool scale), and subjective state indicators (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Spielberger-Khanin test) were assessed. A retrospective analysis of the research results was carried out to search for predictors of CEAP efficacy. The impact of such parameters as patient's gender, age, disease form and severity on treatment outcome was assessed. Results. After the first CEAP, the severity of abdominal pain in patients of the main group decreased from 6.1 mm to 3.9 mm and after the third CEAP to 3.7 mm. After three courses of CEAP, defecation frequency in IBS patients with diarrhea decreased from 4.7 to 1.9 per day, and in IBS patients with constipation increased from 0.26 to 0.77 per day. The proportion of patients with normal stool consistency increased significantly both among patients with constipation and among those with diarrhea to 47.1 and 55.6 %, respectively. Retrospective analysis showed the best treatment results in patients with mild and moderate IBS.