Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical effect of selective acupoint application on dyspnea and cough in patients with acute stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods By using prospective observational research method, 90 COPD patients admitted to Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2019 to June 2020 were selected and divided into three groups according to random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. Control group was treated with routine therapy for one week. Non selective acupoint application group was treated with acupoint application for one week on the basis of routine therapy, selective acupoint application group was treated with selective acupoint application for one week on the basis of routine therapy, and acupoint application was treated with the combination of the weakest lung meridian and the most vigorous kidney meridian. Clinical efficacy, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea index (mMRC) grading after treatment and pulmonary function indicators’ level and clinical symptom score before and after treatment among three groups were compared. Results After treatment, total effective rate of selective acupoint application group was significantly higher than that of non selective acupoint application group and control group, and total effective rate of non selective acupoint application group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) of three groups were higher than those before treatment, FEV1 and FVC of selective acupoint application group were higher than those of non selective acupoint application group and control group, and FEV1 and FVC of non selective acupoint application group were higher than those of control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of shortness of breath, expectoration, cough and gasping in three groups were lower than those before treatment, the scores of shortness of breath, expectoration, cough and gasping in selective acupoint application group were lower than those in non selective acupoint application group and control group, while those in non selective acupoint application group were lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The difference of mMRC grading among three groups after treatment was statistically significant (P < 0.05); the mMRC grading of selective acupoint application group after treatment was better than that of control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Selective acupoint application is effective in treating dyspnea and cough in patients with acute stage of COPD, it can improve the symptoms of shortness of breath, expectoration, cough, gasping, and the pulmonary function, it is worthy of clinical application.