Background: People with disabilities (PWDs) have higher incidence and mortality rates of cardiovascular disease than non-PWDs. Considering the mutual influence of cardiovascular diseases and disabilities, careful observation and complementary management beyond standard treatments are essential when ischemic heart disease (IHD) occurs in PWDs. This study investigated the association between acupuncture treatment and reduced mortality in PWDs diagnosed with IHD.
Methods: Using a database from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea, PWDs newly diagnosed with IHD were included in this study. Exposure to acupuncture treatment within one year after diagnosis was used to classify participants into the exposure and non-exposure groups, with follow-up for three years or until death. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust for group imbalances, and survival analysis was conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality. Dose-response and subgroup analyses were also performed.
Results: After PSM, 38,157 PWDs were included in each group. The acupuncture group showed a significantly lower hazard of mortality, approximately 22% lower than that of the control group (adjusted HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.74-0.81). In the dose-response analysis, the group receiving the highest dose of acupuncture demonstrated the lowest hazard of mortality (adjusted HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.62-0.72). Most subgroups also showed a reduced mortality hazard in the acupuncture-treated groups, with the highest dose group exhibiting the lowest hazard.
Conclusion: This study is a foundational investigation suggesting that acupuncture treatment is associated with reduced mortality in PWDs diagnosed with IHD. Although future research is needed to establish causality, acupuncture should be considered a beneficial option for managing IHD in PWDs.
Keywords: Acupuncture; Ischemic heart disease; Mortality; People with disability; Retrospective cohort study.
© 2026. The Author(s).