Evidence-based novel changes in prevalence and symptom characteristics of spleen deficiency syndrome in persons of varied health status and different ages: a cross-sectional observational study.

Yin Zhang,Zi-Han Lin,Hao Yu,Xia Ding,Xian-Ping Li,Yu-Yong Jiang,Xiao-Feng Li,Jian Li,Liang Chen,Hui Ye,Ning Shi,Yue-Zhou Chen,Fu-Sheng Liu,Mei Han,Yue Liu

doi:10.1155/2014/818235

Abstract

Deficiency of the organs is a vital pathophysiologic characteristic in the elderly. A core TCM aging theory is known as aging caused by spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS) that can be found in ancient and modern literature. The key objectives of this study were to establish a full-scale trial to evaluate the prevalence, symptom severity, frequency, and distribution of SDS in different age groups as related to health status (healthy, subhealthy, and chronic disease) to elucidate the role of spleen deficiency in the aging process and deterioration of health status. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 4 hospitals in China. 1390 participants aged 20–79 were interviewed by investigators who completed questionnaires recording prevalence, severity, and frequency of symptoms as well as other relevant information. The results revealed that prevalence and symptom characteristics of SDS showed regularities with increasing age and deteriorating health status. It supports the TCM concept that spleen deficiency is an important mechanism of aging, subhealth, and chronic diseases. Early recognition of the warning signs and symptoms of SDS may lead to intervention and even prevention strategies for subhealth and chronic diseases as well as promotion of healthy aging.

Highlights

Aging is a spontaneous, long-term, gradual, complex, and inevitable process recognized by modern medicine as physiologic deterioration and decline
The key tenet of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the Chinese philosophic concept of holism [1], with aging an ongoing pathophysiologic process that occurs in response to influences external to the organism as well as to internal functional decline of the organs, meridians, flow of qi and blood, and yin and yang
Inpatients, outpatients, and individuals were recruited by simple random sampling from hospitals in Beijing and Xiamen, China: Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; Xiamen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital; Peking Union Medical College Hospital Affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; and Beijing Hospital Affiliated to the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China

Summary

Introduction

Long-term, gradual, complex, and inevitable process recognized by modern medicine as physiologic deterioration and decline. The key tenet of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the Chinese philosophic concept of holism [1], with aging an ongoing pathophysiologic process that occurs in response to influences external to the organism as well as to internal functional decline of the organs, meridians, flow of qi and blood, and yin and yang. A core TCM aging theory is known as aging caused by spleen deficiency. Evidence supporting this theory can be found in ancient and modern literature [2,3,4,5,6,7]. Modern clinical and laboratory studies have explored the essence of spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS) as well as the correlation between SDS and the digestive system [8, 9]

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Conclusion