Preliminary Study of TCM Syndromes of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Malnutrition / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the TCM syndromes of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with malnutrition. Methods TCM Syndromes Questionnaire of Acute Exacerbation of COPD was formulated with TCM clinical epidemiology methods. Totally 220 cases of hospitalized patients met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups, 120 cases of malnutrition and 100 cases of non-malnutrition. The clinical data were observed and syndrome elements of malnutrition group and non-malnutrition group were analyzed to discuss the rule of syndromes in acute exacerbation period. Results In addition to respiratory system, the frenquency of symptoms such as weight loss, shortness of breath, easy cold, aversion to wind and cold, poor appetite, abdominal distension, constipation, belching, dizziness and tinnitus, tooth loose and hair loss, soreness and weakness of waist and knees significantly increased in COPD with malnutrition, mainly involving in syndromes of spleen deficiency and incoordination between spleen and stomach. In patients with acute exacerbation of malnutrition COPD, the single syndromes were 36 cases (30%), the composite syndromes were 84 cases (70%). The simple excess syndromes were 38 cases (31.67%), the simple deficiency syndromes were 23 cases (19.17%), and the intermingled deficiency and excess syndromes were 59 cases (49.17%). Conclusion Patients with acute exacerbation of COPD with malnutrition are mainly composite syndromes and the intermingled deficiency and excess syndromes. Spleen deficiency and incoordination between spleen and stomach may be the important pathogenesis of COPD with malnutrition.