Effect of moxibustion at sensitized-acupoints on quality of life in patients with chronic superficial gastritis

To compare the efficacy difference between moxibustion at sensitized-acupoints and non-sensitized-acupoints using the same group of acupoints. A total of 139 patients with chronic superficial gastritis were divided into a sensitized acupoint group (102 cases) and a non-sensitized acupoint group (37 cases) based on whether acupoint sensitization occurred. The SPSS version 19.0 statistical software propensity score matching function was used to balance the baseline data between the groups. Finally, 29 pairs of matched patients were included, namely 29 cases in the sensitized acupoint group and 29 cases in the non-sensitized acupoint group. Both groups were treated with moxibustion therapy. The treatment lasted for 30 min per time, and was performed every other day for 8 weeks. Changes in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score and the short-form 36-item health survey (SF-36) score in both groups were observed before and after treatment, as well as the clinical efficacy. The covariates of age, course of disease, TCM symptom score and SF-36 score in the two groups were balanced after matching (all P