The effectiveness of acupuncture on the sleep quality of elderly with dementia: a within-subjects trial

Figures & data

Table 1 Sleep disturbances and nighttime behaviors on the NPI reported by caregivers

	%
Disturbances
Difficulty falling asleep	76.2
Getting up during the night	71.4
Awaking too early in the morning	61.9
Other nighttime behaviors	28.6
Wandering, pacing, or inappropriate activities at night	23.8
Waking at night, dressing, and planning to go out	19.0
Dressing and undressing repeatedly	14.3
Response statistics
Two or more of the above disturbances	78.9
	Number
Mean number of sleep disturbances	3.1
Median number of sleep disturbances	3.5

Abbreviation: NPI, Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

Table 2 Comparison of mean differences in pre- and posttreatment/control periods of sleep and cognitive parameters

Outcome measure	Treatment period		Control period		Wilcoxon
	∆M	SD	∆M	SD	Z
Resting time	42.05	86.61	−45.21	98.1	−2.05*
Total sleep time	42.02	80.85	−32.95	96.61	−2.21*
Sleep onset latency	3.76	34.51	1.02	21.49	−0.04
Sleep efficiency	2.60	13.58	−2.27	10.89	−1.57
Wake after sleep onset	−1.04	73.79	−12.28	62.33	−0.24
Awake number	−1.96	21.31	−6.93	1.96	−0.64
ADAS-Cog	−0.56	4.13	1.73	7.81	−0.89

Note:

* P < 0.05; times are in minutes.

Abbreviations: ADAS-Cog, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 1 Changes in resting time (time when the subject went to bed with the intent to sleep) during the control period (∆M = −45.21) and treatment period (∆M = 42.05).

Note: Times are in minutes.

Figure 2 Changes in total sleep time (total time within rest intervals actually spent sleeping) during control period (∆M = −32.95) and treatment period (∆M = 42.02).

Note: Times are in minutes.