Electroacupuncture vs Sham Electrocupuncture for Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Electroacupuncture for Women With Mixed Urinary Incontinence: a Sham-controlled Randomised Clinical Trial

The investigators plan to conduct this randomized sham-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA), compared with sham electroacupuncture (SA) on women with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI).

MUI tends to present with more severe symptoms and put greater burden on the health of individual and economy of society. Current European Association of Urology (EAU) guideline on incontinence recommends to initiate treatment targeted at predominant component of MUI. Electroacupuncture has been proved not inferior to pelvic floor muscle training plus solifenacin in decreasing the 72-hour IEF and shows promise as an effective alternative for the treatment of MUI. The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture on mixed urinary incontinence among women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female, 35 to 75 years old
• Diagnosed as mixed urinary incontinence
• Positive in cough stress test
• Experiencing persistent urinary incontinence for at least 3 months, and at least one episode for each of stress and urgent urinary incontinence in baseline screening
• Sign the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed as simple stress urinary incontinence, simple urgent urinary incontinence, overflowing urinary incontinence or neurogenic bladder, etc.
• Uncontrolled urinary tract infection with urinary pain and urge
• Urogenital system tumours and/or pelvic organ tumours
• Patients have taken drugs for urinary incontinence treatment or drugs possibly affect the function of lower urinary tract, or received non-drug treatment for urinary incontinence (i.e. electrical stimulation, bladder training, pelvic floor muscle training, and etc.) in the past one month
• History of surgeries for urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor organs, including hysterectomy; Patients have pelvic organ prolapse ≥ II degree
• Residual urine ≥ 100ml
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and severe hypertension
• Diseases affecting lower urinary tract function
• Severe heart, lung, brain, liver, kidney and hematopoietic system diseases, mental disorders and cognitive dysfunction
• Constrained or unable to complete movements like walking, going stairs up and down and running, etc.
• At pregnancy, breastfeeding or postpartum period for less than 12 months
• Cardiac pacemaker, metal allergy or strong fear of needle
• Patients have received acupuncture in the past 3 months