[Clinical observation on effect of auricular acupoint pressing in treating sleep apnea syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical effect and mechanism of auricular acupoint pressing (AAP) in treating sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).


METHODS
Forty-five patients with SAS were randomly divided in to the AAP group (30 patients) and the control group (15 patients) to observe the changes of clinical symptoms, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), apnea index (AI), hypopnea index (HI) and minimum blood oxygen saturation (mSaO2) in night before and after treatment by multiple channel polysomnography (PSG).


RESULTS
Clinical symptoms were significantly alleviated in the AAP group after treatment, with improvement in various parameters monitored by PSG (P < 0.01), showing significantly reduced AHI, AI and HI and increased mSaO2 (P < 0.01). While in the control group, no improvement was found either in clinical symptom or in PSG parameters (P > 0.05). Comparison between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
AAP is an effective treatment of SAS, it provides a facilitate, economic and safe therapy for early prevention and treatment to SAS.
Wang
Xiao-hong
XH
Second Affiliated Hospital, Hebei University of Medical Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050000.
Yuan
Ya-dong
YD
Wang
Bao-fa
BF
D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods; D020831:Acupuncture, Ear / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012639:Seeds; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*