RESUMO
Objective To investigate the distribution of occupations and traditional Chinese medical syndromes of the patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis in Foshan area. Methods A multicenter retrospective investigation was carried out to analyze the characteristics of occupations and syndrome types of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in Foshan area, and the correlation of occupations with syndrome types was also explored. Results (1) The workers engaged in agriculture, forestry, animal-breeding and fishing, and the workers engaged in production & transportation were most likely to suffering from hypokalemic periodic paralysis, with the incidence being 36.8%, 34.7% respectively. (2) The damp-heat syndrome was the most commonly-seen syndrome type, accounting for 53.1%, and then followed by Qi deficiency syndrome (20.3%) and Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome(15.7%).(3) The syndromes of heavy manual labor workers such as agriculture, forestry, animal-breeding and fishing workers, production & transportation workers, and soldiers were characterized by damp-heat type, accounting for 62.5%, 69.4%, 47.0% respectively. Professionals & technicians were most likely to suffering from Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome, accounting for 44.4%; business service personnel were most likely to suffering from Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome (32.5%) and Qi deficiency syndrome (31.3%). The syndrome distribution of heavy manual labor workers differed from that of light manual labor workers and brain workers(P < 0.001). Conclusion The high-risk groups of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in Foshan area are the heavy manual labor workers who are manifested with the damp-heat syndrome. The dominated syndrome types of light manual labor workers and brain workers are Qi deficiency and Qi-Yin deficiency.
