Electroacupuncture for women with urgency-predominant mixed urinary incontinence: secondary analysis of a randomized noninferiority trial

Objective To compare the effects and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) and the integration of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and solifenacin in women with urgency-predominant mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Methods The study was a secondary analysis of a randomized noninferiority trial which recruited 500 women with MUI and randomized 178 with urgency-predominant MUI to either receive 12-week EA treatment and 24-week follow-up or 36-week PFMT-solifenacin treatment. Clinical response was defined as at least 50% reduction in average 24-h urgency incontinence episode frequency (IEF), measured by 72-h voiding diary through weeks 1-12. Results Of the patients randomized, 173 completed the study. The clinical response was 45.78% in EA group, similar with 50.0% in PFMT-solifenacin group, with a difference of - 3.54 (95% CI - 19.08 to 12.0; P = 0.66). In both groups, the proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction of IEF and stress IEF were improved, while the score of ICIQ-SF, episodes of urination, nocturia and urgency, 1-h amount of urinary leakage (AUL), proportion of patients using pads and the number consumed were all decreased after 12-week treatment. The effects could sustain till 36 weeks. Adverse events occurred less in EA group. Conclusions EA might reduce IEF, AUL and improve the life quality of female patients with urgency-predominant MUI. The effect may sustain till 36 weeks.