Sex
|
Female
|
33,331
|
56.59
|
33,447
|
56.79
|
0.004
|
Male
|
25,568
|
43.41
|
25,452
|
43.21
| |
Age group, years
|
18–39
|
24,487
|
41.57
|
23,572
|
40.02
|
0.032
|
40–59
|
27,481
|
46.66
|
29,748
|
50.51
|
0.077
|
≥60
|
6931
|
11.77
|
5579
|
9.47
|
0.075
|
Mean (±SD), years
|
44.57 (15.43)
|
44.28 (14.44)
|
0.02
|
Baseline comorbidities
|
Diabetes mellitus
|
6252
|
10.61
|
6098
|
10.35
|
0.009
|
Hypertension
|
12,457
|
21.15
|
12,036
|
20.43
|
0.018
|
Hyperlipidemia
|
10,097
|
17.14
|
10,034
|
17.04
|
0.003
|
Congestive heart failure
|
569
|
0.97
|
508
|
0.86
|
0.011
|
Cerebrovascular diseases
|
4044
|
6.87
|
3786
|
6.43
|
0.018
|
Depression
|
2863
|
4.86
|
2840
|
4.82
|
0.002
|
Anxiety
|
6551
|
11.12
|
6600
|
11.21
|
0.003
|
Alcoholism or alcohol-related disorders
|
311
|
0.53
|
316
|
0.54
|
0.001
|
Tobacco dependence
|
289
|
0.49
|
270
|
0.46
|
0.005
|
Obesity
|
439
|
0.75
|
427
|
0.72
|
0.002
|
Drugs used
|
Oral steroids
|
39466
|
67.01
|
39495
|
67.06
|
0.001
|
NSAIDs
|
57613
|
97.82
|
57734
|
98.02
|
0.014
|
Statins
|
7971
|
13.53
|
7937
|
13.48
|
0.002
|
Types of acupuncture
|
Manual acupuncture of TCM type
|
–
|
–
|
50,470
|
85.69
| |
Electroacupuncture
|
–
|
–
|
2142
|
3.64
| |
Combination of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture
| | |
6287
|
10.67
| |
Duration between the initial diagnosis to the first acupuncture treatment, days, mean (median)
|
–
|
919 (574)
| |
Acupuncture visits, mean
|
–
|
7.45
| |
Follow-up duration, years, mean (median)
|
3.60 (3.02)
|
4.27 (3.79)
| |