Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) collaborative care involving acupuncture for axial spondyloarthritis: 6-week exploratory results of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial
Objectives: This pragmatic randomised controlled trial aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) collaborative model of care (TCMCMC) in patients with active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).Here, we present the week 6 analysis.Methods: Patients with active axSpA (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BAS-DAI] 4), spinal pain 4 and inadequate response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were randomised to receive either usual rheumatologic care (control) or TCMCMC (intervention, ie, usual rheumatologic care with TCM consultations and 10 acupuncture sessions).Spinal pain at week 6 was the primary outcome.Evaluation of other clinical and quality of life outcomes at week 6 was exploratory.
Authors
- Jie Kie Phang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1357-8568)
- Ting Hui Woon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2433-5572)
- Bao Qiang Dong
- Ader Lim
- Yu Heng Kwan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7802-9696)
- Marcel Bilger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2872-6597)
- Shin Yoong Chua
- Truls Østbye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0662-7440)
- Choy Tip Tan
- Warren Weng Seng Fong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1891-1892)
- Julian Thumboo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6712-5535)
- Jia Ven Lee
- Clara Eng
- Youyi Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0366-5318)
- Hwee‐Ling Koh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1461-9245)
- Xiang Ling Ang
- Chiah Yuen Wong
- Ying Ying Leung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8492-6342)
- Charmaine Tze May Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6411-5427)
- Bee Choo Tai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4420-7746)
- Hui Chin Tan
- Siaw Ing Yeo
- Swee Cheng Ng
- Kok Yong Fong
- Charmaine Wai Yan Sum
- Su-An Quek
Institutions
- Vienna University of Economics and Business (AT)
- SingHealth (SG)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Singapore General Hospital (SG)
- Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
- National University Health System (SG)
- Sengkang General Hospital (SG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- EULAR Rheumatology Open
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ero.2026.03.014
- Primary Topic
- Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Ministry of Health -Singapore