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

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.

A thorough literature search was performed across PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Eligible studies underwent statistical analysis via RevMan 5.4 software.

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).

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.