Adverse events*†
| Elderly (n=92) | Non-elderly (n=292) | |
| EA-related adverse events | ||
| Overall | 2 (2.17) | 4 (1.37) |
| Fatigue | 0 (0.00) | 2 (0.68) |
| Unbearable pain | 1 (1.09) | 0 (0.00) |
| Haematoma | 1 (1.09) | 2 (0.68) |
| EA-unrelated adverse events | ||
| Overall | 27 (29.35） | 45 (15.41) |
| Upperrespiratory infection | 2 (2.17) | 12 (4.11) |
| Pneumonia | 1 (1.09) | 0 (0.00) |
| Cold | 18 (19.57) | 24 (8.22) |
| Pharyngitis | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.34) |
| Chronic bronchitis | 2 (2.17) | 0 (0.00) |
| Cough | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.34) |
| Dizziness | 1 (1.09) | 1 (0.34) |
| Headache | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.34) |
| Herpes zoster | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.34) |
| Diarrhoea | 1 (1.09) | 1 (0.34) |
| Facial oedema | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.34) |
| Urinary tract infection | 1 (1.09) | 0 (0.00) |
| Uterine fibroids | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.34) |
| Knee osteoarthritis | 1 (1.09) | 0 (0.00) |
| Others | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.34) |
*Adverse events were analysed for all patients who received treatment and were counted by type rather than frequency in the same patient. Adverse events of different types occurring in a single patient were defined as independent adverse events. A single adverse events type with multiple occurrences in a single patient was defined as one adverse event.
†Data are reported as no (%) unless otherwise indicated.
EA, electroacupuncture.