Acupuncture's long-term impact on depression prevention in primary dysmenorrhea

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common gynecological condition causing depression. Acupuncture is an effective option for PD management but its effects on PD-associated depression remain unclear. Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving 35,099 propensity score-matched pairs of acupuncture users and non-users with PD was conducted using data from Taiwan's Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database 2000. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate depression risk, and bioinformatics analyses were performed to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms. Results: The risk of developing depression was reduced by 64 % in acupuncture users compared with non-acupuncture users during the 19-year follow-up period. The decrease was dose-dependent. Bioinformatics analyses identified 34 co-expressed targets for acupuncture, PD, and depression; and eight hub genes (coding for interleukin 6 and 1B, tumor necrosis factor, albumin, vascular endothelial growth factor A, C-reactive protein, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor) potentially involved in the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. Several molecular pathways were found to be involved, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, serotonergic synapse, and estrogen signaling pathway. Limitations: Bias in the selection of participants could have been introduced as a consequence of the retrospective nature of the study. Data were derived from a single national database, and acupuncture treatment details were unavailable. Conclusion: Acupuncture may protect against the development of depression in patients with PD. This study provides insight into the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of acupuncture in PD management and depression prevention.