Acupuncture and sleep disorders in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic evaluation with meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients commonly suffer from sleep disorders, significantly impacting their quality of life. Western treatments often entail adverse effects, while acupuncture (ACU) presents a safe, nonaddictive alternative. Methods: A thorough literature search was performed across PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Eligible studies underwent statistical analysis via RevMan 5.4 software. Results: This study synthesized data from 19 randomized controlled trials involving 1300 patients. The ACU cohort showed notable improvement in Parkinson’s disease sleep scale (PDSS) scores (mean difference [MD] = 10.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.64, 15.98) relative to controls. Subgroup analysis revealed significance for ACU treatments beyond 6 weeks (MD = 15.39, 95% CI: 11.70, 19.09) but not for those 6 weeks or shorter (MD = 3.51, 95% CI: −1.20, 8.23). Notably, electroacupuncture resulted in significant PDSS score enhancements (MD = 12.39, 95% CI: 6.06, 18.71), with sensitivity analysis verifying result stability. However, without electroacupuncture, PDSS score differences were insignificant (MD = 7.83, 95% CI: −2.33, 17.99) and had lower result stability. Additionally, increased ACU session frequency may yield better improvements in PDSS scores. The ACU group also observed Improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores (MD = −4.52, 95% CI: −6.36, −2.67). However, no significant variation was identified in Epworth Sleepiness Scale score improvement between groups (MD = −0.90, 95% CI: −3.67, 1.88). Conclusion: ACU therapy effectively improves nighttime sleep quality in PD patients. A treatment duration extending beyond 6 weeks is highly recommended. Additionally, increasing the frequency of ACU sessions and incorporating electroacupuncture in the treatment regimen may be essential for optimal results.