Association of Qi-stagnation constitution and subjective sleep characteristics with mild cognitive impairment among elderly in community: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Depression and sleep disturbance are commonly reported in patients with mild cognitive impair-ment (MCI). However, it remains unclear whether Qi-stagnation constitution is a risk factor for MCI before older adults suffer from depression. Methods: Subjects were recruited from 34 community elderly day care centers in China. Intensive face-to-face interviews were conducted using Montreal cognitive function assessment, AD8 dementia screening question-naire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Traditional Chinese medicine constitution assessment scale. Multi-factor logistical regression was employed to analyze the association among subjective sleep quality, TCM constitution, and MCI.Results: A total of 1,071 cases were analyzed in this study, including 314 patients with MCI. The probability of those with Qi-deficiency and Qi-stagnation suffering from MCI was 1.559 times and 1.706 times higher than that of the older adults without Qi-deficiency and Qi-stagnation, respectively (P<0.05). In the PSQI scale, individuals with MCI had poorer subjective sleep quality, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration, and aggravated daytime dysfunction (P<0.05) compared with those without MCI. The results of multi-factor logistical regression showed that sleep latency (OR=1.168), daytime dysfunction (OR=1.261), and Qi-stagnation (OR=1.449) were risk factors for MCI; the OR of suffering from MCI in the elderly with sleep disturbance and Qi-stagnation was 2.581. (all P<0.05). Conclusion: MCI patients have a higher prevalence of sleep disorders and Qi-stagnation, and may show specific changes in their daytime and nighttime sleep characteristics, with the specific manifestations such as difficulty in falling asleep, easily waking up at night/ early morning, and daytime dysfunction, among others. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000039411

Automated summary

This study investigated the depression and sleep disturbance in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among Chinese community-dwelling elderly. It found that Qi-deficiency and Qi-stagnation constitution may be risk factors for MCI. Sleep latency, daytime dysfunction, and Qi-stagnation were identified as risk factors for MCI. MCI patients have a higher prevalence of sleep disorders and Qi-stagnation, and may exhibit specific sleep characteristics such as difficulty falling asleep, easily waking up at night/early morning, and daytime dysfunction.