Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2023 Jan 3:zvad005. doi: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvad005. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIM: Reduction of blood pressure and improvement of stress and sleep disorders in patients with essential hypertension were important factors. Auricular acupressure was an appropriate complementary therapy for the elderly with essential hypertension for whom pharmacological therapy was not available.
METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The experimental group (n = 23) received 8 weeks of auricular acupressure intervention on specific acupoints (superior triangular fossa, Shenmen, kidney, heart, occiput) related to blood pressure, pulse rate, stress, and sleep, whereas the control group (n = 23) received auricular acupressure on nonspecific acupoints. The primary outcomes were the systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured weekly. The secondary outcomes were the pulse rate, heart rate variability, actigraphy measured through Fitbit, and the PSQI were measured before and after the experiment. There were statistically significant differences in systolic blood pressure (F = 5.67, p = .022), diastolic blood pressure (17.53, p < .001), and pulse rate (F = 6.78, p = .013) over time. Stress index (χ2 = 2.12, p = .040) and sleep efficiency (χ2 = 3.57, p = .001) were also significantly different before and after the experiment. However, there was no significant difference in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
CONCLUSION: The findings showed that auricular acupressure leads to improvements in blood pressure, stress, and sleep in elderly people with essential hypertension. Therefore, auricular acupressure can be used as an alternative nursing intervention for hypertension prevention, stress, and sleep management.
REGISTRATION: WHO ICTRP KCT0007364.
PMID:36594992 | DOI:10.1093/eurjcn/zvad005
