Effects of Korean Medicine in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Patients - A Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the clinical features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients who attended a Korean medicine hospital and the treatment effects through retrospective chart reviews.Methods: The medical records of 82 outpatients who had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and visited the Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department of Kyung Hee Korean Medicine Hospital from 8 January 2015 to 8 January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. To assess the treatment outcomes, we used the FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), DLCO (Diffusing capacity of the Lung for CO), 6-minute walk test, and HRCT (High Resolution Computed Tomography).Results: The study group consisted of 28 females and 54 males. The median age of the patients was 67.98±11.44 years. The chief complaints were cough (n=51) and dyspnea (n=49). Other frequent symptoms were general weakness (n=8), weight loss (n=4), and a fever (n=2). A total of 77 (93.90%) patients were prescribed Korean herbal medicine, and 52 (63.41%) patients were treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, ICT, or pharmacopuncture. After treatments, FVC, DLCO, the 6-minute walk test, and HRCT were maintained or worsened slightly.Conclusions: This study presented the characteristics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients treated by Korean medical therapies, and further studies of Korean medical treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients would be valuable.

Preliminary Research for Developing a Pattern Identification Tool for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

“…한의학에서는 임상증상을 근거로 하여 특발성 폐섬유화증을 喘證, 肺癆, 肺痿 등의 범주에 해당 한다고 볼 수 있다. 그러나 이와 관련된 연구는 많 이 보고되어 있지 않은 현황이며, 참고할 수 있는 연구로는 2020년 항생물질로 유도된 폐섬유증 생 쥐모델에서의 사삼, 백합 등 약재의 효능을 확인한 실험논문 1편 6 , 2021년 한방병원에 내원한 특발성 폐섬유화증 환자에 대한 임상적 특징을 분석한 후 향적 차트 리뷰 1편 7 2) 논문 선정 검색어를 "特发性肺纤维化"과 "辨證", "特发性肺 纤维化"과 "症"으로 하고 특발성 폐섬유화증의 변 증유형 및 각 변증유형에 대한 증상이 제시되어 있는 논문을 최종 선정하기로 하였다.…”