Correlation of tongue manifestation and abnormal checkup findings in adults of gentleness type

Abstract

Objective To learn the relation of tongue manifestation with abnormal checkup findings in adults of gentleness type. Methods Clinical data of 844 individuals with gentleness constitution who took health checkup in our center during June 2010 and December 2011 were retrospectively collected, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), electrocardiogram (EKG), chest X-ray (X-ray), abdominal ultrasound and 21 biochemical indictors.Tongue diagnosis was made by Chinese Medicine practitioners.Logistic regression analysis was used to find the correlation of tongue manifestation with abnormal findings. Results Gentleness constitution was confirmed in 398 males (average age (36.1±11.8) years old) and 446 females (average age was (36.4±10.8) years old) (χ2=51.706, P<0.05). The rate of abnormal tongue manifestation was higher in males than that in females (greasy fur tongue: χ2=21.396, P<0.05). Normal health checkup results were more commonly seen in female adults (χ2=19.661, P<0.05). In single-factor conditional logistic regression analysis, dark red tongue was related to uric acid (odds ratio (OR)=2.012, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.225-3.304) and triacylglycerol (OR=1.758, 95% CI: 1.162-2.659); greasy tongue fur was related to aspartate aminotransferase (OR=1.925, 95% CI: 1.106-3.352) and uric acid (OR=1.936, 95% CI: 1.217-3.079); dark red and greasy fur tongue was related to uric acid (OR=2.913, 95% CI: 1.398-6.068) and triacylglycerol (OR=2.515, 95% CI: 1.333-4.747). Conclusions Men of gentleness type who have abnormal tongue manifestation and health checkup findings may be in sub-health state.Tongue diagnosis could be helpful in determining individual's constitution. Key words: Medicine, chinese traditional; Body constitution; Health status