Acupuncture for cancer-related insomnia: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for alleviating insomnia in patients with cancer through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Results Summary
Acupuncture improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores in cancer patients, with electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture showing particularly strong effects. The study concluded that acupuncture is safe and effective for treating cancer-related insomnia.
Population
Patients with cancer experiencing insomnia (561 individuals from 10 RCTs).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acupuncture intervention | decrease | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores | patients with cancer | pooled OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.12 to 2.46) | improves | #1 |
Acupuncture intervention | decrease | cancer-related insomnia (CRI) | patients with cancer | pooled OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.12 to 2.46) | improves | #2 |
electroacupuncture | decrease | cancer-related insomnia (CRI) | patients with cancer | OR of 5.90 (95% CI 2.64 to 13.23) | improves | #3 |
auricular-acupuncture | decrease | cancer-related insomnia (CRI) | patients with cancer | OR of 2.30 (95% CI 1.48 to 3.58) | improves | #4 |
Acupuncture | decrease | Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) | patients with cancer | ORs of 1.31 (95% CI 0.69 to 2.48) | improved | #5 |
Acupuncture | decrease | cancer-related insomnia (CRI) | patients with cancer | ORs of 5.29 (95% CI 2.18 to 12.84) | improved | #6 |
Acupuncture | decrease | cancer-related insomnia (CRI) | patients with cancer | OR of 3.17 (95% CI 1.35 to 7.44) | improved | #7 |
Acupuncture | decrease | cancer-related insomnia (CRI) | patients with cancer | OR of 1.64 (95% CI 1.00 to 2.68) | improved | #8 |
Acupuncture | decrease | insomnia | patients with cancer | change in PSQI and ISI scores | moderately improved | #9 |
Acupuncture | neutral | enabling subsequent clinical treatments | - | - | is safe and effective | #10 |
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective treatment for insomnia in patients without cancer. A lack of evidence, however, supports its application in the treatment of cancer-related insomnia (CRI). OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy as well as safety of acupuncture for alleviating insomnia in patients with cancer. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library) to select publications published in peer-reviewed journals written in English. The OR was calculated, along with their 95% CIs. We assessed heterogeneity using Cochrane Q, I FINDINGS: The present meta-analysis comprised 561 individuals from 10 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) across age cohorts. Acupuncture intervention improves Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores and CRI more than control, with a pooled OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.12 to 2.46), OR of 5.90 (95% CI 2.64 to 13.23) for electroacupuncture, OR of 2.30 (95% CI 1.48 to 3.58) for auricular-acupuncture and 2.72. Acupuncture improved the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and CRI more than control approaches, with ORs of 1.31 (95% CI 0.69 to 2.48), 5.29 (95% CI 2.18 to 12.84), 3.17 (95% CI 1.35 to 7.44) and 1.64 (95% CI 1.00 to 2.68). CONCLUSION: The change in PSQI and ISI scores showed that acupuncture moderately improved insomnia in patients with cancer. Acupuncture is safe and effective, enabling subsequent clinical treatments.