Reduced health-related quality of life in body constitutions of yin-xu, and yang-xu, stasis in patients with type 2 diabetes: taichung diabetic body constitution study.

Chia-I Tsai,Yi-Chang Su,Shih-Yi Lin,Cheng-Hung Lee,I-Te Lee,Tsai-Chung Li

doi:10.1155/2014/309403

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate how health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis are related in type 2 diabetes patients. Method. Seven hundred and five subjects were recruited in 2010 for this study from a Diabetes Shared Care Network in Taiwan. Generic and disease-specific HRQOL were assessed by the short form 36 (SF-36) and the diabetes impact measurement scale (DIMS). Constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis were then assessed by the body constitution questionnaire (BCQ), a questionnaire consisting of 44 items that evaluate the physiological state based on subjective symptoms and signs. Results. Estimated effects of the Ying-Xu and Stasis on all scales of the SF-36 were significantly negative, while estimated effects of the Yang-Xu on all scales (except for SF, RE, MH, and MCS) were significantly negative. For DIMS, the estimated effects of the Ying-Xu and Stasis on all scales were significantly negative except for Stasis on well-being, while Yang-Xu has a significantly negative effect only on symptoms. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that TCM constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis are closely related to a reduction in HRQOL. These findings support the need for further research into the impact of intervention for TCM constitutions on HRQOL in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Highlights

Diabetes in all age groups worldwide has significantly increased in recent decades [1,2,3,4]
The study group was composed of 705 type 2 diabetics cared for in the Diabetes Shared Care Network (DSCN) in Taichung City, with an average age of 63.90 years
The F statistic for Stasis constitution was highest for the symptom scale (F statistic = 117.94) and lowest for the well-being scale (F statistic = 33.87). These results reveal that the symptom scale was superior to the other diabetes impact measurement scale (DIMS) scales in its ability to distinguish between diabetic patients with YinXu, Yang-Yu, or Stasis constitutions and those without the corresponding constitution

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes in all age groups worldwide has significantly increased in recent decades [1,2,3,4]. Diabetics encounter many challenges when attempting to control this disease, adversely impacting quality of life [7]. As advances in medical care have prolonged life, elevating the quality of life is essential for medical treatment [8]. Health care for such patients focuses mainly on maximizing daily life functions and achieving the highest level of well-being may reduce health care costs [9]. Healthrelated quality of life (HRQOL) is an essential outcome of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine medical care, in addition to disease-specific measures [10]. The short form 36 (SF-36) and diabetes impact measurement scale (DIMS) evaluate health concepts that represent basic human values relevant to the functional status and well-being of diabetics [11]

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Conclusion