Efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation for post-stroke sleep disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to systematically assess the clinical efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) for treating post-stroke sleep disorders (PSSD).MethodsWe conducted thorough literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EmBase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, China Biology Medicine (CBM); China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI); Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Wanfang Database, focusing on RCTs examining NIBS for PSSD. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.ResultsEighteen articles were reviewed, including 16 on repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), one on Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS), and two on transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Meta-analysis results indicated that rTMS within NIBS significantly improved the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (MD = −1.85, 95% CI [−2.99, −0.71], p