Abstract
Objective The efficacy of auricular acupressure in patients with hypertension and insomnia is controversial. This systematic review aims to explore the effectiveness of auricular acupressure in reducing blood pressure and improving sleep in this population. Methods We conducted an extensive database search in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Ovid LWW, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal Database on randomized controlled trials published from inception to November 2019 that compared auricular acupressure with a control or comparison group on blood pressure control and sleep improvement. Two reviewers independently conducted data screening and extraction. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Meta-analyses were performed on blood pressure, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the efficacy rate of diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for traditional Chinese medicine syndromes (DTCTCMS), and the efficacy rate of guidelines for traditional Chinese medicine (new drug) clinical research (GTCMCR) by Revman 5.3.0. Results A total of 18 randomized controlled trials with 1685 patients were identified. Compared with a control or comparison group, pooled meta-analyses showed that auricular acupressure significantly improved systolic blood pressure (MD = −15.05, 95% CI (−18.49, −11.61), P < 0.00001), diastolic blood pressure (MD = −8.41, 95% CI (−11.33, −5.48), P < 0.00001), PSQI (MD = −2.37, 95% CI (−4.64, −0.10), P=0.04), the efficacy rate of DTCTCMS (RR = 1.63, 95% CI (1.16, 2.28), P=0.004), and the efficacy rate of GTCMCR (RR = 1.25, 95% CI (1.12, 1.38)). Conclusions The results demonstrated a favorable effect of auricular acupressure to reduce blood pressure and improve sleep in patients with hypertension and insomnia. Further studies to better understand the acupoints and intervention times of auricular acupressure are warranted.
Highlights
Objective. e efficacy of auricular acupressure in patients with hypertension and insomnia is controversial. is systematic review aims to explore the effectiveness of auricular acupressure in reducing blood pressure and improving sleep in this population
Meta-analyses were performed on blood pressure, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the efficacy rate of diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for traditional Chinese medicine syndromes (DTCTCMS), and the efficacy rate of guidelines for traditional Chinese medicine clinical research (GTCMCR) by Revman 5.3.0
Compared with a control or comparison group, pooled metaanalyses showed that auricular acupressure significantly improved systolic blood pressure (MD −15.05, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) (−18.49, −11.61), P < 0.00001), diastolic blood pressure (MD −8.41, 95% CI (−11.33, −5.48), P < 0.00001), PSQI (MD −2.37, 95% CI (−4.64, −0.10), P 0.04), the efficacy rate of DTCTCMS (RR 1.63, 95% CI (1.16, 2.28), P 0.004), and the efficacy rate of GTCMCR (RR 1.25, 95% CI (1.12, 1.38))
Summary
Objective. e efficacy of auricular acupressure in patients with hypertension and insomnia is controversial. is systematic review aims to explore the effectiveness of auricular acupressure in reducing blood pressure and improving sleep in this population. We conducted an extensive database search in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Ovid LWW, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal Database on randomized controlled trials published from inception to November 2019 that compared auricular acupressure with a control or comparison group on blood pressure control and sleep improvement. E results demonstrated a favorable effect of auricular acupressure to reduce blood pressure and improve sleep in patients with hypertension and insomnia. The therapeutic effects of auricular acupressure on hypertension and insomnia were systematically evaluated, and a meta-analysis was conducted to provide a reference for the treatment of these conditions. (1) Hypertension OR Blood Pressure, High OR Blood Pressures, High OR High Blood Pressure OR High Blood Pressures (2) Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep OR DIMS (Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep) OR Early Awakening OR Awakening, Early OR Nonorganic Insomnia OR Insomnia, Nonorganic OR Primary Insomnia OR Insomnia, Primary OR Transient Insomnia OR Insomnia, Transient OR Rebound Insomnia OR Insomnia, Rebound OR Secondary Insomnia OR Insomnia, Secondary OR Sleep Initiation Dysfunction OR Dysfunction, Sleep Initiation OR Dysfunctions, Sleep Initiation OR Sleep Initiation Dysfunctions OR Sleeplessness OR Insomnia Disorder OR Insomnia Disorders OR Insomnia OR Insomnias OR Chronic Insomnia OR Insomnia, Chronic OR Psychophysiological Insomnia OR Insomnia, Psychophysiological (3) Auricular seed pressing OR Auricular point pressing OR Auricular pressing OR Auricular acupoint pressing OR Auricular acupressure OR Auricular seed acupressure OR Auricular point acupressure (4) (1) and (2) and (3)
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