Objective:

2

To explore the demographic and disease-related factors associated with acupuncture response in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH).

Methods:

2

Using data from the randomized clinical trial (218 cases) consisting of 4 weeks of baseline assessment

8 weeks of treatment

and 24 weeks of follow-up

participants were regrouped into responders (at least a 50% reduction in monthly headache days at week 16 compared with baseline) and non-responders. Twenty-three demographic and disease-related factors associated with acupuncture response in 183 participants were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression.

Results:

2

One hundred and nineteen (65.0%) participants were classified as responders. Four factors were significantly independently associated with acupuncture response

including treatment assignment

headache intensity at baseline

and 2 domains [general health (GH) and social functioning (SF)

]

from the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey quality of life questionnaire. Treatment assignment was associated with non-response: participants receiving true acupuncture were 3-time more likely to achieve a CTTH response than those receiving superficial acupuncture [odds ratio (OR) 0.322

95% confidence interval (CI) 0.162 to 0.625

P

=0.001

]

. Compared with patients with mild-intensity headache

patients with moderate-intensity headache were twice as likely to respond to acupuncture (OR 2.001

95% CI 1.020 to 4.011

P

=0.046). The likelihood of non-response increased by 4.5% with each unit increase in the GH grade (OR 0.955

95% CI 0.917 to 0.993

P

=0.024) while decreased by 3.8% with each unit increase in the SF grade (OR 1.038

95% CI 1.009 to 1.069

P

=0.011).

Conclusions:

2

Greater headache intensity

lower GH score

and higher SF score were associated with better acupuncture responses in CTTH patients. These 3 factors require independent validation as predictors of acupuncture effectiveness in CTTH.