OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in drinkers with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial across multiple centers, involving 224 drinkers. Patients received either acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment. The primary outcome was the proportion of responders, defined as participants who had a reduction of 6 points or more from baseline in the National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total score at weeks 8 and 32. Secondary outcomes measures included the Global Response Assessment (GRA), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5). RESULTS: One hundred and twelve drinkers were included in each group (n = 224 in total). The proportion of responders in terms of NIH-CPSI was 58.9% versus 40.3% in the acupuncture group (AG) and sham acupuncture group (SAG), respectively, with a statistically significant difference of 18.6% (p = 0.002) at week 8. Higher proportions of responders with respect to NIH-CPSI (p < 0.001 at week 32) and GRA (p < 0.001 at week 8 and p = 0.01 at week 32) were observed in the AG compared with the SAG. No between-group differences were found in the changes in IPSS at any assessment time point. Changes in IIEF-5 score were significantly higher in the AG than in the SAG at weeks 20 and 32, while the difference was not statistically significant at week 8. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture appeared to alleviate the symptoms of pain among drinkers with CP/CPPS and improve their quality of life, but had no demonstrable effect on urinary tract symptoms or erectile function among these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03213938 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

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