The effect of electroacupuncture applied to women with stress urinary incontinence on urinary incontinence severity and symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Stress Urinary Incontinence is a condition that impairs the quality of life in women and randomized controlled trials of electroacupuncture for stress urinary incontinence have been conducted.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effect of electroacupuncture on the severity and symptoms of urinary incontinence in women with stress urinary incontinence.

METHODS: Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Science Citation Index until November 2023. This study was based on the recommendations of the Cochrane guidelines. Data were analyzed using the Review Manager computer program (Version 5.4). The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the RoB-2 tool.

RESULTS: The analysis included 888 women with stress urinary incontinence and three studies. In women with stress urinary incontinence, electroacupuncture intervention improved urinary incontinence severity and quality of life (MD:-2.37, 95% CI:-3.29 to 1.45, Z = 5.07,p < 0. 001), urinary leakage (SMD:-0.79, 95% CI:-1.02 to -0.55, Z = 6.60,p = 0.001) and incontinence episode frequency (SMD:-2.24, 95%CI:-4.17 to -0.32, Z = 2.29,p < 0.02).

CONCLUSION: In women with stress urinary incontinence, electroacupuncture intervention decreased the severity of urinary incontinence and improved the quality of life. Symptoms related to urinary incontinence were found to decrease urinary leakage and incontinence episode frequency. The studies included in the analysis were determined to be low-risk studies in quality assessment.