Effect of acupuncture on the daytime function in patients with post-stroke sleep-wake disturbance: A randomized controlled trial: 针刺对中风后睡眠-觉醒障碍患者日间功能的影响:随机对照试验

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the improvements in sleep duration, drowsiness and daytime fatigue in patients with sleep-wake disturbance after ischemic stroke treated by needling at Băihuì (百会GV20) and Sìshéncōng (四神聪EX-HN1). MethodsA total of 81 patients with post-stroke sleep-wake disturbance were randomly divided into 2 groups, i.e. a control group (39 cases) and a treatment group (42 cases). In the control group, the basic treatment for ischemic stroke was administered. In the treatment group, on the base of the treatment as the control group, acupuncture was applied to GV20 and EX-HN1. The treatment was given once a day, 30 min each time, totally for 4 weeks. The daytime sleep duration, sleep need, Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score were observed in the patients of two groups before and after treatment. The therapeutic effects were observed. ResultsAfter treatment, the daytime sleep duration and sleep need were all reduced to different extents in the patients of two groups. The daytime sleep duration and sleep need in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). After treatment, ESS of two groups were reduced significantly to be (11.21 ± 3.33) points and (6.40 ± 2.11) points, respectively (both P < 0.05) and the FSS scores reduced significantly to be (33.62 ± 9.17) points and (21.45 ± 8.17) points, respectively (both P < 0.05). ConclusionAcupuncture at GV20 and EX-HN1 effectively reduces daytime sleep duration, relieves drowsiness and daytime fatigue and improves daytime function of the patients with post-stroke sleep-wake disturbance.