A Clinical Research On The Auricular Points Treatment Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Good quality of sleep not only comforts human body physiologically and psychologically but also increases life quality and learning and working efficiency. Besides, it further creates harmonious family and social relationship and corporative performance. Moreover, it could decrease the public security problems caused by traffic and industrial accidence. Therefore, sleep related studies worth being concerned. Among the sleep related diseases, sleep apnea syndrome annoys people mostly. According to a survey, it is estimated to have over four hundred thousand people caught by this disease. Among them, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has causal relationships with many diseases, such as CVA disease and obesity related metabolic diseases. The treatment methods in western medicine include conservative treatment, CPAP, oral device, and surgery. In TCM, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment are the mainstream, but some people are afraid of acupuncture, some people detest bitterness of taking herbal medicine. Therefore, auricular points treatment might be the third train of thought in TCM.1. Object ive1.1The research is to study the clinical effect of the auricular therapy on the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. 1.2It is also to find out the constitution of TCM syndrome classification statistics of the OSA patients.1.3The research also study how this treatment affect the Sleep and Respiratory System, sleep quality and sleep efficiency.2. MethodsThe prospective randomized controlled study chose60cases from Taiwan Chang foreshore show Chwan Hospital Sleep Center during December2010to April2012, which were in accordance with the diagnostic and indrawing standards, to be the subjects of the study. The patients were randomly divided into2groups, with30cases in the treatment group treated with auricular point sticking and pressing bead and30cases in the control group treated with auricular point sticking plaster pressure. The two groups were treated with same auricular point, once a week. With two weeks a course, both groups received one course in total. Before treatment two groups were filled in sleepiness scale, Athens' insomnia scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, snoring, Burnout Fatigue Severity Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and traditional Chinese medicine constitution assessment; before and after treatment monitoring of PSG sleep monitoring parameters, Including the respiratory disturbance index (AHI), snoring index, the lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO2), mean oxygen saturation decreased index (Denaturation Index), before and after treatment of stage4sleep time ratio (S1, S2, S3, S4), a rapid eye movement stage ratio (REM%), total sleep time, sleep efficiency (TST)(Sleeping Effieciency), the total number of awakening (Total Arousal), and periodic limb movement index (PLM) and other indicators. After the test we have an assessment of the disease in traditional Chinese medicine constitution differentiation and improving sleep effect.3.Results3.1Physical Datas There were no significant differences in the age, BMI before the treatment, gender, exercise, smoking and drinking status were not statistically different (P>0.05). The two groups were comparable.3.2Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese Medicine physiqueThe study find that the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients are more likely with a composite constitution, for several physical and clamp, which has the constitution of qi deficiency and phlegm dampness constitution each accounted for65%, with blood stasis constitution accounted for38%, qi stagnation constitution accounted for33%, accounting for38%of yin deficiency constitution, damp heat constitution accounted for40%.3.3The sleep improvement of OSAS patients with auricular therapyIn two groups before treatment, the number of AHI snoring, snoring index, LSaO2comparison, there were no significant differences between them (P>0.05). Comparing the AHI before and after treatment, significant differences could be seen in both groups (P<0.01in treatment group, P<0.05in control group), comparison of AHI reduction of two groups after treatment has statistical significance (P<0.01).Comparing the number of snoring and the snoring index before and after treatment, significant differences could be seen in both groups (P <0.01), comparison of the number of snoring and the snoring index reduction of two groups after treatment have statistical significance (P<0.01).LSaO2in both groups before and after treatment, the difference were not statistically significant (P>0.05), the LSaO2improvemen t after treatment between two groups was not statistically significa nt (P>0.05).The sleep structure parameters (stage4sleep time ratio, REM ra tio) in two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Com paring the S1before and after treatment, significant differences co uld be seen in both groups (P<0.01). Comparison of S1reduction of two groups after treatment has no statistical significance (P>0.05).Comparing the S2, S3, S4before and after treatment, no signific ant differences could be seen in both groups (P>0.05). Comparison o f S2, S3, S4change of two groups after treatment have no statistica1significance (P>0.05).But in the contrast of REM%before and after treatment, there were significant differece in both groups (P<0.01). And there was significant differece in the REM%improvement (P<0.01)There were no significant differences in the total sleep time (TST), and sleep efficiency (SE), total wake time (Total Arousal), periodic limb movement index (PLM) in both groups before treatment (P>0.05).Comparing the TST before and after treatment, significant differences could be seen in both groups (P<0.01). Comparison of TST change in two groups after treatment has statistical significance (P<0.01).Comparing the SE before and after treatment, significant differences could be seen in both groups (P<0.01). Comparison of SE change in two groups after treatment has no statistical significance (P>0.05).Comparing the Total Arousal before and after treatment, significant differences could be seen in both groups (P<0.05). Comparison of Total Arousal change intwo groups after treatment has no statistical significance (P>0.05).Comparing the PLM before and after treatment, significant differences could be seen in both groups (P<0.01). Comparison of PLM change in two groups after treatment has no statistical significance (P>0.05).4. Conclusion 4.1In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome constitution types are mainly QI deficiency and phlegm dampness constitution;4.2Auricular therapy can effectively improve obstructive sleep apnoea breathing, sleep quality and sleep efficiency.