Data Sheet 1_Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for dysphagia after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.pdf

Eligible randomized controlled trials were included. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using R software.</p>Results<p>Twelve randomized controlled trials including 863 patients were analyzed.

Acupuncture reduced post-treatment WST scores compared with control interventions (MD = -0.78, 95% CI: -1.04 to -0.51). The clinical effective rate was also higher in the acupuncture group (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.27). Moreover, acupuncture improved VFSS outcomes (SMD = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.46 to 1.05), reduced SSA scores (MD = -7.65, 95% CI: -12.30 to -3.01), and improved quality of life and nutritional indicators.

Safety reporting was limited, precluding definitive conclusions regarding the safety of acupuncture in this population.</p>Conclusion<p>Acupuncture may have a potential adjunctive role in improving swallowing function, swallowing-related quality of life, and nutritional indicators in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, the evidence remains limited by small sample sizes, methodological limitations, and heterogeneity across outcomes.

Larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and further clarify the clinical role of acupuncture.</p>Systematic review registration<p>crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420261371533.</p>