Biopsychological and pathophysiological features of Cold-Heat subgroup of Sasang typology with Sasang Digestive Function Inventory, Sasang Personality Questionnaire and Body Mass Index

Abstract

BackgroundThe Sasang typology is a traditional Korean personalized medicine and its Cold-Heat subgroup identification is essential for effective use of medical herbs and acupuncture. The purpose of this study was to discover differences between Cold-Heat subgroups with objective clinical measures and to examine its clinical usefulness.MethodsThe pathophysiological symptoms of the digestive system, temperament and body shape of 241 patients were measured using the Sasang Digestive Function Inventory (SDFI), Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Body Mass Index (BMI). The differences between Cold and Heat subgroups of each Sasang types were tested by Analysis of Covariance considering age and sex, while the associations of SDFI, SPQ and BMI with Cold-Heat subgroup were examined by logistic regression analysis.ResultsThere were significant differences between Cold and Heat subgroups in SDFI, SPQ and BMI for the So-Yang, SDFI and BMI for the Tae-Eum type and SDFI-Digestion subscale for the So-Eum type. Moreover, the SDFI-Digestion was a substantial predictor for Cold-Heat subgroup identification in three Sasang types. The logistic regression model with SDFI, SPQ and BMI correctly predicted 81.9%, 77% and 75.5% of the Cold-Heat subgroups in So-Yang, Tae-Eum and So-Eum types, respectively.ConclusionThe results of the present study showed that the objective and validated clinical measures of SDFI, SPQ and BMI would be useful for differentiating Cold-Heat subgroups of Sasang typology. Further clinical studies on pathophysiological mechanisms in Cold-Heat subgroup are required to generalize these results.

Urinary Function of the Sasang Type and Cold‐Heat Subgroup Using the Sasang Urination Inventory in Korean Hospital Patients

“…Therefore, the current study presented the Sasang type- and Cold-Heat subgroup-specific clinical features in urinary function after confirming the structural validity of the SUI using 3 years of records from hospital patients. The clinical differences in pathological urinary symptoms between the Sasang types and Cold-Heat subgroup diagnosed by a certified clinical specialist [ 23 ] were examined using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and T -test after the SUI update using factor analysis and item response theory [ 24 ].…”

“…The objective clinical profiles of the urinary pathophysiological symptoms in the three Sasang types and their Cold-Heat subgroup might be acquired using well-validated clinical measures of the Sasang typology scales as previously shown with the SDFI, SPQ, BMI, and PI [ 3 , 23 , 25 ]. Furthermore, it would provide foundations for the evidence-based teaching [ 26 ] of the Sasang typology for medical students and professionals and for integrative precision medicine [ 6 ] combining Eastern and Western practices.…”

Comment on “Manifestations of Sasang Typology according to Common Chronic Diseases in Koreans”

“…As a conclusion, with consideration of the latest clinical studies [4][5][6][7], the clinical usefulness of SPQ and SDFI subscales in chronic diseases should be acknowledged as that the MDD patients have high SPQ-E, low SPQ-B, and low SDFI-A; FD patients have high SPQ-E and low SDFI-D; and metabolic disease patients of hypertension, DM, and obesity have high SDFI-D which were missed out in Hong's article [1].…”

“…The SDFI-D was reversely calculated as representing problematic poor digestive function, and the SDFI-A and SDFI-E were correctly calculated with erroneous operational definitions. Subsequently, the SDFI-Total as a sum of SDFI-D, SDFI-A, and SDFI-E was miscalculated, and this affects the clinical usefulness of SDFI and its subscales in Sasang typology [ 6 ].…”

“…The operational definition of SDFI-D is a measure of good and hyperactivated digestive function, and a person with high SDFI-D should have a high BMI [ 3 , 6 – 8 ]. A previous clinical study showed that the SDFI-D has a negative correlation with Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean ( r = −0.585) and Functional Dyspepsia-Related Quality of Life ( r = −0.433), while the SDFI-E (tendency of high eating speed and large meal volume) has a positive correlation with Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire ( r = 0.481) [ 3 ].…”