Exploration on the Relationship Between Distinct Sarcopenia, Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitution, and Circadian Rhythm Patterns of Older Adults and Impact of Acupoint-stimulated Interventions

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and impact ofdigital/remote courses combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupoint‐stimulatedinterventions, health education, and exercise on sarcopenia and sleep disturbances acrossdistinct age groups. By integrating multidisciplinary expertise encompassing TCM,geriatric medicine, geriatric health, community medicine, and epidemiology at Ministry ofHealth and Welfare Tainan Hospital, this project aims to explore the correlations amongsarcopenia, sleep conditions, and TCM body constitution, while evaluating the feasibilityof incorporating the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ) into anti‐frailtyscreenings to establish an evidence‐based, TCM‐integrated intervention model. A total ofat least 360 participants will be recruited at Ministry of Health and Welfare TainanHospital across two distinct operational phases. In the first phase, a comprehensivecross‐sectional assessment will be conducted on 300 older adults aged 65 and above toestablish a geriatric TCM body constitution database, utilizing 7‐day actigraphy,scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the BCQ, and standard geriatric functionalassessment scales (including SARC‐F, Fried frailty index, ADL, IADL, WHOQOL‐BREF, EQ‐5D,mini nutritional assessment, ISI, PSQI, and ECOG score), with eligible and consentingparticipants referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG) based on physician assessment.In the second phase, longitudinal interventional trials will be executed with 180participants divided into three specific cohorts. The sarcopenia cohort, comprising 60older adults aged 65 and above, will undergo a 3‐month intervention combining acupointmassage and the Vivifrail exercise program, with data evaluated at baseline, month 1, andmonth 3, followed by a final tracking period extending to month 4. The geriatric sleepdisturbance cohort (60 older adults aged 65 and above) and the adult sleep disturbancecohort (60 younger adults aged 20‐64), all presenting with a Pittsburgh Sleep QualityIndex (PSQI) score of 5 or higher, will participate in a 2‐week curriculum consisting ofsleep‐related self‐acupoint massage and sleep hygiene education, with clinical follow‐upsscheduled at baseline, week 2, and week 6, a final tracking assessment at week 7, andintervention compliance monitoring conducted at week 3.