Improvement of Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Sleeping Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of STN DBS on sleep quality and restless leg symptoms in individuals with PD. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, and WANFANG databases published between 1990 and 2019. The articles included were those that contained both pre- and postsurgery data acquired using International RLS Study Group criteria and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaire with patients' follow-up of at least three months. All studies that met the quality requirements were included in a meta-analysis performed using STATA 12.0 software. RESULTS: Of 73 articles identified, 7 studies comprising 82 patients were qualified for the current meta-analysis. After adjusting for heterogeneity in study effect sizes, the random effects meta-analysis indicated that STN DBS improved sleep quality and restless leg symptoms significantly (SMD = −1.111, 95% CI: −1.918∼−0.304, P=0.007). Subgroup analysis showed that different sleep scoring criteria had different effects on the condition of sleeping after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: STN DBS is a powerful method in the management of sleep quality and restless leg symptoms in PD patients, but its long-term effects with larger populations must be thoroughly assessed.