Acupuncture Combined With Acupoint Application (Winter Disease Summer Treatment) for Stable COPD: Impact on Lung Function and Acute Exacerbation Frequency

Objective This article aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of acupuncture combined with acupoint application (“Winter Disease Summer Treatment”) on lung function, symptom burden, and acute exacerbation rate in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods Electronic records of stable COPD patients managed between June 2023 and March 2026 were retrospectively reviewed, and 120 eligible patients with complete 8-week intervention and 6-month follow-up data were included. Patients were categorized according to the treatments documented in their electronic medical records into a control group receiving conventional pharmacotherapy alone ( n = 60) and an observation group receiving acupuncture plus acupoint application in addition to conventional therapy ( n = 60). Spirometry parameters (FEV 1 % [forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of the predicted value] predicted and FEV 1 /FVC ratio [forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity ratio]), COPD assessment test (CAT) scores, and annualized exacerbation rates were evaluated at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results At 6 months, the observation group showed significantly higher FEV 1 % predicted (66.2 ± 5.7% vs. 61.8 ± 5.4%, p < 0.001) and FEV 1 /FVC ratio (0.68 ± 0.04 vs. 0.63 ± 0.04, p < 0.001) and greater CAT score reduction (−6.5 ± 3.7 vs. −2.8 ± 2.8, p < 0.001). The observation group also had a lower annualized exacerbation rate (0.70 vs. 1.40 events/person-year; rate ratio = 0.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.30–0.83, p = 0.007) and a higher composite responder rate (75.0% vs. 23.3%, p < 0.001). Conclusion Adding acupuncture and acupoint application to conventional therapy significantly improves lung function and symptom burden while reducing exacerbation rates in stable COPD patients over 6 months.