Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of the sequela of olfactory disorders after infection with COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

Abstract

Background: From the end of 2019 to now, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put enormous strain on the world’s health systems. As a characteristic sign of COVID-19 patient, olfactory dysfunction (OD) poses considerable problems for patients. In China, acupuncture has been widely used to treat OD caused by COVID-19, but there is still a lack of evidence-based medical evaluation. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of COVID-19 OD. Methods: According to the retrieval strategies, randomized controlled trials on the acupuncture for COVID-19 OD were obtained from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Chinese Scientific Journal Database and the Wanfang Database, regardless of publication date, or language. Studies were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan 5.3) and STATA 14.2 software. Ultimately, the evidentiary grade for the results will be evaluated. Results: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Conclusion: This study will provide up-to-date summary proof for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for COVID-19 OD.

Olfactory dysfunction and the role of stem cells in the regeneration of olfactory neurons

“…In this category, immunoglobulin drugs are most commonly associated with olfactory dysfunction [ 54 ]. In addition, the meta-analysis results of corticosteroid treatment for COVID-19 also showed that olfactory dysfunction may be a side effect of this drug treatment method [ 55 , 56 ].…”

The Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Traumatic Anosmia: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial

“…In Chinese medicine, the pathogenesis of olfactory disorders is considered to be related to the respiratory system, as stated in the classic Chinese medicine text, “Huang Di Nei Jing” 18 . Several modalities have been used to treat olfactory dysfunction, including Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) decoctions, acupuncture, and acupoint injections 19,20 . In the book titled “Za Bing Yuan Liu Xi Zhu”, it is stated that when the body suffers from trauma, the Blood and Qi are both thought to be injured and sick from the outside to the inside of the body 21 .…”

“…18 Several modalities have been used to treat olfactory dysfunction, including Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) decoctions, acupuncture, and acupoint injections. 19,20 In the book titled "Za Bing Yuan Liu Xi Zhu", it is stated that when the body suffers from trauma, the Blood and Qi are both thought to be injured and sick from the outside to the inside of the body. 21 A tailored Guizhi decoction was prescribed by the principle investigator of the current study, a senior Traditional Chinese Medicine physician, in order to treat bodily injury.…”