Effect of Acupuncture Combined with Moxibustion on Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Post-stroke Depression / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with moxibustion on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with post-stroke depression. Methods 120 patients were divided into control group (n=60) and treatment group (n=60). Both groups took fluox-etine and accepted acupuncture therapy, and the treatment group accepted moxibustion additionally. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17) and the change of HRV were compared before and after treatment. Results The score of HAMD was lower, and the reductive ratio was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The standard deviation of the mean of qualified normal sinus in-terval (SDNN) and standard deviation of sequential five-minute R-R interval means (SDANN) increased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05), and were higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The root mean square differences of successive R-R inter-vals (RMSSD) and percentage of differences between adjacent normal sinus intervals greater than 50 ms (PNN50) decreased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05), and were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and LF/HF were higher in both groups after treatment (P<0.05), and were higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture combined with moxibustion therapy can better adjust the function of autonomic nerve and reduce depres-sion in patients with post-stroke depression.