Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the association of nine types of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution with the five chronic diseases: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and obesity. Methods Chi-squared test was performed to investigate the distribution characteristics of TCM constitutions in the participants with the five chronic diseases in questionnaire. Correspondence analysis was used to explore the correlation between them. Results A total of 2,660 participants (1,400 males; 1,260 females) were included in this study. The mean age was 52.54 ± 13.92. Of them, 600 were of gentleness type accounting for 22.56%. Proportions of gentleness type in the chronic diseases (16.00%~23.70%) were less than that in general population (32.14%). The gentleness type and yin-deficiency type were significantly correlated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus, qi-deficiency type was correlated with heart disease, phlegm-dampness type was associated with obesity, and dampness-heat type was correlated with hyperlipidemia. Conclusions The correlations between TCM constitution types and the five chronic diseases were different. This may have a significant implication for TCM practice, and even the people with gentleness type should not be ignored in health management.
Highlights
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease-heart disease, hypertension, and stroke-cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease are the main causes of death [1]
The proportions of gentleness type in the chronic diseases varied from 16.00% to 23.70%, which were less than that in general population (32.14%) [22]; the proportions of special diathesis type for each chronic disease were less than the others; and the proportions of qi-deficiency type were higher than the others in chronic diseases except obesity (Table 2)
According to the spatial distribution of variables, gentleness type and yin-deficiency type were correlated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus; qi-deficiency type was associated with heart disease; phlegmdampness type was correlated with obesity; and dampnessheat type was correlated with hyperlipidemia
Summary
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease-heart disease, hypertension, and stroke-cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease are the main causes of death [1]. In terms of the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), TCM constitution, depending on the intrinsic characteristics of human body, is innate and influenced by the environment. It integrates the morphological structure and physiological function with psychological state. TCM constitution may develop and change so as to adapt to the changes in the environment throughout a human body’s life [4]. The classification is defined in terms of physical features, common manifestations, psychological characteristics, susceptibility to certain diseases, and adaptability to the environment [5]
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