Effect of acupressure on sleep quality of middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of acupressure on blood pressure and sleep quality in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension. Methods: A total of 75 elderly hypertensive patients with sleep disorders were randomly divided into either an experimental group (n = 38) or a control group (n = 37). All subjects received conventional treatment and health guidance. The experimental group also received acupressure treatment. The score of PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and blood pressure were measured and recorded before and after the treatment. Results: After the intervention, the systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure of the experimental group decreased significantly (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in SBP between the groups (p < 0.01). After four weeks of intervention, the total PSQI score in the experimental group was significantly lower compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Acupressure can lower SBP and effectively improve the sleep quality in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension.

Keywords

• Acupressure
• Hypertension
• Sleep quality