Evidence Mapping, Certainty Appraisal, and Acupoint Prescription Pattern Mining of Acupuncture for Poststroke Dysphagia: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.
4 affiliations
- 1Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
- 2Department of Acupuncture, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
- 3Rehabilitation Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
- 4Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Neurorehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Abstract
Background
To characterize the methodological quality, certainty of evidence, primary-study overlap, outcome coverage, and recurrent acupuncture prescription patterns in the existing secondary evidence on acupuncture for poststroke dysphagia (PSD).Method
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) evaluating acupuncture for PSD were identified. Methodological quality was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, and primary-study overlap using the corrected covered area (CCA). Evidence mapping summarized outcome coverage and certainty, and prescription pattern mining explored frequently used acupoints and combinations.Result
Forty-five SRs/MAs were included. Under the original AMSTAR 2 critical-domain configuration, one review was rated moderate, eight low, and 36 critically low. GRADE indicated that most outcome evidence was of low or very low certainty. The CCA was 0.34%, indicating slight overlap of primary studies across reviews. Evidence was concentrated on total effective rate and swallowing-function outcomes, whereas patient-important outcomes, including aspiration/pneumonia, nutritional status, safety, and quality of life, were underrepresented. Frequently used acupoints included Fengchi (GB20), Lianquan (RN23), Jinjin (EX-HN12), and Yuye (EX-HN13), with recurrent combinations reflecting local stimulation and swallowing-related functional regulation.Conclusion
Current secondary evidence suggests that acupuncture, primarily as an adjunctive intervention, may improve swallowing-related outcomes in PSD, but confidence remains limited by methodological weaknesses and low certainty of evidence. Future studies should improve methodological rigor, standardize clinically important outcomes, and prospectively validate recurrent prescription patterns.
Related
- Dose–response effects of robot-assisted training on poststroke functional recovery : A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Vibration Therapy for Poststroke Clinical Balance: A Domain-Specific Systematic Review and Multilevel Meta-Analysis.
- Predictive roles of inflammatory indicators (NLR, PLR, LMR and SII) in poststroke depression rehabilitation: a systematic review.
- Comparative effectiveness of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation for post-stroke hemiplegia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
- Screening for rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease using lung ultrasound: a systematic review and quality appraisal of recent studies
BibTeX
@article{lan2026evidence,
title = {{Evidence Mapping, Certainty Appraisal, and Acupoint Prescription Pattern Mining of Acupuncture for Poststroke Dysphagia: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.}},
author = {Guohao Lan and Minmin Wu and Jiongliang Zhang and Yuxuan Li and Yuting Wang and Yumeng Su and Zhiliang Dong and Xiangyu Wei and Luwen Zhu},
journal = {Brain and behavior},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1002/brb3.71887},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42967503},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evidence Mapping, Certainty Appraisal, and Acupoint Prescription Pattern Mining of Acupuncture for Poststroke Dysphagia: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.
AU - Guohao Lan
AU - Minmin Wu
AU - Jiongliang Zhang
AU - Yuxuan Li
AU - Yuting Wang
AU - Yumeng Su
AU - Zhiliang Dong
AU - Xiangyu Wei
AU - Luwen Zhu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Brain and behavior
DO - 10.1002/brb3.71887
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42967503
AB - Background To characterize the methodological quality, certainty of evidence, primary-study overlap, outcome coverage, and recurrent acupuncture prescription patterns in the existing secondary evidence on acupuncture for poststroke dysphagia (PSD).Method Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) evaluating acupuncture for PSD were identified. Methodological quality was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, and primary-study overlap using the corrected covered area (CCA). Evidence mapping summarized outcome coverage and certainty, and prescription pattern mining explored frequently used acupoints and combinations.Result Forty-five SRs/MAs were included. Under the original AMSTAR 2 critical-domain configuration, one review was rated moderate, eight low, and 36 critically low. GRADE indicated that most outcome evidence was of low or very low certainty. The CCA was 0.34%, indicating slight overlap of primary studies across reviews. Evidence was concentrated on total effective rate and swallowing-function outcomes, whereas patient-important outcomes, including aspiration/pneumonia, nutritional status, safety, and quality of life, were underrepresented. Frequently used acupoints included Fengchi (GB20), Lianquan (RN23), Jinjin (EX-HN12), and Yuye (EX-HN13), with recurrent combinations reflecting local stimulation and swallowing-related functional regulation.Conclusion Current secondary evidence suggests that acupuncture, primarily as an adjunctive intervention, may improve swallowing-related outcomes in PSD, but confidence remains limited by methodological weaknesses and low certainty of evidence. Future studies should improve methodological rigor, standardize clinically important outcomes, and prospectively validate recurrent prescription patterns.
SN - 2162-3279
ER -