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Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

From: Effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the treatment of migraine: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Included studies

Country

Groups (n)

Gender female/male

Age

Headache days during baseline

Stimulation location

Parameters

Device/manufacturer

Duration and frequency

Adverse events

ITT

Outcomes (Assessment Tool)

Li et al. 2017

China

EG = 31 CG = 31

EG 28/3 CG 2/29

EG = 35.9 ± 10.6 CG = 37.1 ± 11.4

EG = 7.6 ± 3.7 CG = 7.2 ± 3.3

Bilateral Taiyang acupoints. (trigeminal nerve indirectly)

EG: frequency 2/100 Hz;

CG: deliver no electrical stimulation

LH202H Han Electrostimulator, Jinghua Wei Industry Development Company, Beijing, China

5 times weekly for 12 weeks

No

Yes

Change in monthly migraine days, migraine attacks, headache days and acute antimigraine drug intake between run-in and third month of treatment

Schoenen et al. 2013

Belgium

EG = 34 CG = 33

EG 31/3 CG 30/3

EG = 34.6 ± 11.0 CG = 39.1 ± 9.9

EG = 7.8 ± 4.0 CG = 6.7 ± 2.6

Bilateral supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves

EG: biphasic rectangular impulses, pulse width 250 μs, frequency 60 Hz, intensity 16 mA;

CG: pulse width 30 μs, frequency 1 Hz, intensity 1 mA

Cefaly, STX-Med., Herstal, Belgium

20 min daily for 3 months

No

Yes

Change in monthly migraine days, 50%response rate, change in monthly migraine attacks, headache days, mean headache severity per migraine day, acute antimigraine drug use between run-in and third month of treatment; satisfaction

Silberstein et al. 2016

USA

EG = 30 CG = 29

EG 26/4 CG 27/2

EG = 40.5 ± 14.2 CG = 38.8 ± 11.1

EG = 20.8 ± 5.0 CG = 22.3 ± 4.9

Vagus nerve

EG: voltage peak 24 V, maximum current of 60 mA;

CG: deliver no electrical stimulation

GammaCore®, electroCore, LLC, Basking Ridge, NJ

Two 2-min

3 times a day for 8 months

EG: 12 AEs

CG: 8 AEs

Yes

Safety and tolerability, Change of headache days per 28 days, 75% response rate, 50%response rate, acute medication use

Liu et al. 2017

China

EG = 66 CG = 22

EG 52/14 CG 18/4

EG = 37.6 ± 10.4 CG = 44.3 ± 8.3

EG = 11.5 ± 7.2 CG = 9.9 ± 3.9

Bilateral occipital nerves

EG: intensity 10 mA

Group A 2 Hz, Group B 100 Hz, Group C 2/100 Hz

CG: deliver no electrical stimulation

HANS-200A machine, JiSheng Medical Technology Limited Company, China

30 min daily for 1 month

EG: Group A 1 AE

Yes

50% responder rate, changes in headache days monthly, headache intensity (measured using the VAS), headache duration, scores on SDS、SAS、HIT-6, percentage of satisfaction

  1. EG experimental group, CG control group, ITT intension-to-treat, AE adverse event