Correlation between sleep quality and parasympathetic intensity at nighttime

Objective To clarify the effect of cardio pulmonary coupling (CPC) technology on sleep quality and the effect of Shichen-based physiological function index analysis on sleep health assessment. Methods CPC and Shichen-based physiological function index were used to evaluate the sleep quality of 242 volunteers from 9: 00 pm to 9: 00 am for 12 hours. Based on CPC technology score, volunteers wree seperated to three sleep quality groups (scoring 85-100 in 63 volunteers, scoring 60-84 in 80 volunteers, scoring <60 in 99 volunteers). The results of sleep quality and parasympathetic intensity over the whole nighttime and the different time period of each sleep quality group were compared and the correlation analysis was done. Results The whole nighttime sleep quality test showed that there was significant difference (t=-12.754-19.030, all P<0.01) in the time to the stable sleep ratio (52.78%±10.32%, 43.99%±14.48, 20.95%±10.41%), the disturbed sleep ratio (25.65%±7.81%, 34.18%±12.71%, 53.65%±14.81%), and the apnea-hypopnea index (2.79±2.95, 7.93±6.61, 23.94±16.09)in the different sleep quality groups. The Shichen-based sleep quality test showed that there was significant difference among the stable sleep ratio, the disturbed sleep ratio during the 23: 00 pm to 5: 00 am period in the different sleep quality groups. There existed significant difference with parasympathetic intensity in the different sleep quality groups. There was positive correlation between the parasympathetic intensity and the stable sleep ratio in the same sleep quality group (r=0.508, P<0.05). Conclusions CPC evaluation can commendably distinguish and evaluate different sleep quality groups on the whole night sleep. The Shichen-based physiological function index can not only distinguish the sleep quality, but also evaluate the multiple physiological function, the parasympathetic intensity between different sleep quality groups during different sleep periods. Thus they can be widely used to assess the sleep quality. Key words: Sleep; Parasympathetic nervous system; Health assessment; Sleep quality