Case-control study on the association between qi-stagnation and insomnia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between insomnia and qi-stagnation by using the international standardized measurement of sleep quality and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Constitution Scales.


METHODS
A survey by means of the TCM Constitution Scales, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Deep Sleep Scale (DSS) in 169 participants aged between 16 and 80 years old was conducted. Comparison was made to examine the sleep quality and insomnia symptoms in the qi-stagnation group and other-constitution group.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis found that the qi-stagnation group had a significantly increased risk of difficulty in falling asleep (OR=3.012, and 95% CI 1.310 to 6.923 for PSQI; OR=3.016, and 95% CI 1.358 to 6.709 for DSS) and early waking (OR=3.545, and 95% CI 1.229 to 10.232 for PSQI; OR=2.742, and 95% CI 1.072 to 7.014 for DSS), while the other-constitution group had a significant risk of dreaminess (OR=2.419, and 95% CI 1.154 to 5.072 for PSQI; OR=2.561, and 95% CI 1.116 to 5.880 for DSS). A dose-effect relationship existed between insomnia symptoms and qi-stagnation. Qi-stagnation significantly increased the risk of difficulty in falling asleep and early waking.


CONCLUSIONS
This case-control study revealed that there is a statistically significant association between qi-stagnation and insomnia. Based on this study, we recommend that further research should be conducted for the rehabilitative care and cure of insomnia from the perspective of TCM constitution.
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China. jxlxl@fimmu.com
Xiao-ling
XL
Jiang
Ying
Y
Zhang
Ying
Y
Lei
Gui-fang
GF
Hu
Zheng-gang
ZG
Zhang
Zhong-ju
ZJ
Xiao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001824:Body Constitution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D019413:Qi; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult