The aim of this trial was to evaluate the feasibility and effect of home-based transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in patients with hypertension. In this randomized pilot trial, patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to the TEAS group or the usual care group. Participants in the usual care group were instructed to continue taking their antihypertensive drugs and received education on lifestyle modifications. In addition, participants in the TEAS group received 4 weekly sessions of noninvasive acupoint stimulation for 12 weeks at home. The primary outcome was the change in office systolic blood pressure at week 12 from baseline. Withdrawal from the study and adverse events associated with TEAS were also recorded. Sixty patients were randomized, with 30 patients in the TEAS group, of whom 1 was lost at week 36, and 30 patients in the usual care group, of whom 3 were lost by week 12. The reduction in systolic blood pressure at week 12 was greater in the TEAS group (−8.53 mm Hg; 95% CI [−13.37, −3.70 mm Hg]) than in the usual care group (−1.70 mm Hg; 95% CI [−4.29, −0.89 mm Hg]), with a between-group difference of −6.83 mm Hg (95% CI, [−12.23, −1.43 mm Hg]; P = 0.014). No TEAS-related adverse events occurred. In conclusion, home-based TEAS added to usual care for patients with hypertension was acceptable and safe and may be a potential treatment option. A larger randomized controlled trial of this intervention is warranted.

本试验的目的是评估以家庭为基础的经皮穴位电刺激 (TEAS) 在高血压患者中的可行性和效果。在这项随机试验试验中，高血压患者被随机分配到 TEAS 组或常规护理组。常规护理组的参与者被指示继续服用他们的抗高血压药物并接受改变生活方式的教育。此外，TEAS 组的参与者在家中接受为期 12 周的每周 4 次无创穴位刺激。主要结果是第 12 周时诊室收缩压与基线相比的变化。还记录了退出研究和与 TEAS 相关的不良事件。60 名患者被随机分组​​，其中 30 名患者在 TEAS 组，其中 1 名在第 36 周丢失，P  = 0.014）。没有发生与 TEAS 相关的不良事件。总之，将家庭 TEAS 添加到高血压患者的常规护理中是可以接受和安全的，并且可能是一种潜在的治疗选择。有必要对这种干预进行更大规模的随机对照试验。