Acupuncture for patients with insomnia and predictors of treatment response: a chart review
Choi Y, Yu D, Ha K, Min J, Choi W, Yun D, Kwak B, Kim S, Yoon J, Kim H, Lim D, Jeon K, Kim S, Lee S, Kim S · Acupuncture in Medicine · 2023 December 30
DOI 10.1177/09645284231210582
Objective
To investigate the response of patients with insomnia to acupuncture in routine clinical practice and explore patient characteristics associated with treatment response.
Conclusions
Acupuncture slightly alleviated insomnia severity and improved sleep quality among outpatients in a real-world clinical setting, with higher baseline pain or discomfort predicting a greater likelihood of response.
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Insights
Acupuncture modestly eased insomnia in routine care, with patients reporting greater pain or discomfort appearing more likely to benefit.
Researchers reviewed medical records from a Korean medicine clinic for adults with insomnia who met predefined severity thresholds on validated insomnia and sleep-quality questionnaires. Patients received acupuncture at specified body points over one to two months, while insomnia severity and sleep quality were assessed monthly. Repeated measurements were analysed to estimate changes over time, and regression modelling examined which baseline characteristics predicted improvement.
Insomnia severity and overall sleep quality improved during treatment, with sleep duration also tending to increase. Higher initial pain or discomfort was associated with a greater likelihood of treatment response, suggesting acupuncture may be particularly helpful for insomnia accompanied by physical discomfort. Only mild fatigue was reported as an adverse effect.
