Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of treated patients, by group.
Characteristics | Standard Therapy (n = 32) | Acupuncture (n = 34) | p* |
|---|---|---|---|
Male gender, % | 40.6 | 32.3 | 0.5 |
Mean age in years (SD) | 65.5 (12.8) | 67.1 (12.8) | 0.6 |
Current smoking, % | 37.5 | 38.1 | 0.8 |
High-school or higher educational level, % | 28.1 | 35.3 | 0.5 |
Depression (clinical diagnosis), % | 0.0 | 5.9 | 0.2 |
HIV-positive, % | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
Missed antiviral prescription, % | 15.6 | 17.6 | 0.8 |
Very intense pain at presentation, % | 30.0 | 29.0 | 0.9 |
Vesicles (>50), % | 35.0 | 48.4 | 0.3 |
Trauma at the site of VZV up to 6 m before onset, % | 28.1 | 39.4 | 0.3 |
Surgical intervention at the site of rash up to 6 months before onset, % | 59.4 | 55.9 | 0.8 |
Site of lesions | Â | Â | Â |
Facial | 9.4 | 23.5 | 0.12 |
Cervical | 6.3 | 8.8 | 0.7 |
Thoracic | 53.1 | 44.1 | 0.5 |
Lumbar | 31.2 | 23.5 | 0.8 |
Extension of lesions | Â | Â | Â |
Subdermatomerical | 28.1 | 26.5 | 0.9 |
Dermatomerical | 59.4 | 67.6 | 0.5 |
Multidermatomerical | 12.5 | 5.9 | 0.3 |
Antiviral therapy | Â | Â | Â |
Acyclovir | 40.6 | 32.4 | 0.5 |
Famcyclovir | 0 | 5.9 | 0.2 |
Valacyclovir | 31.3 | 29.4 | 0.9 |
Brivudin | 9.4 | 11.8 | 0.8 |
Other antiviral | 3.1 | 2.9 | 0.9 |
Missed antiviral prescription | 15.6 | 17.6 | 0.8 |