[Long-term effect of acupuncture on quality of life in patients with early stage of stroke].
OBJECTIVE
To study the long-term effects of acupuncture on quality of life in patients with early stage of stroke.


METHODS
Eighty patients were randomly assigned to the acupuncture group and the control group, 40 in each. All received conventional Western medical treatment, but for patients in the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied additionally immediately from 48 h after patients' life signs were stabilized. Curative effects were evaluated with scores of SF-36, function independent measure (FIM) and NIHSS.


RESULTS
Effect evaluated immediately after acupuncture operation showed that all the scores in the acupuncture group, except score of recognition function in FIM, and scores of body pain and physical function in SF-36, were improved more significantly than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The effectiveness improved continuously in the 6-month period after stroke in both groups, but more superiority was shown in the acupuncture group in aspects of emotional function, social function and mental health by SF-36 (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Early applying acupuncture could raise the physical, social, and psychological functions of stroke patients. Although the effects might decrease to some extent later, acupuncture still showed markedly effect on patients' psychological and social functions as well as on their life satisfaction.
Guo
Rui-you
RY
Department of Neurology, Qingdao Haici Hospital, Shandong. gry-doctor@eyou.com
Liu
Li-an
LA
Ma
Xiao-wei
XW
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome