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

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.

The Relationship between Body Weight Change and Body Constitutions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Schizophrenia

“…compared with people with type 2 diabetes (27.8%, 12.9%, and 12.9%, resp.) [19]. Our findings are consistent with previous study, which divides schizophrenia into six types as follows: (1) internal disturbance of pyrophlegm, (2) internal retention of phlegm-damp, (3) Qi stagnation and blood stasis, (4) Yin deficiency and hyperactivity of fire due to Yin deficiency, (5) Yang deficiency, and (6) others [27, 28].…”

“…In our study, patients with Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, or Stasis constitutions reported poor physical condition and self-perception of health and significantly higher levels of stress compared with patients without these constitutions in the same population. Previous studies examining different populations have also reported that people classified as having imbalanced BC types exhibited significantly poorer Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) than those classified as having gentleness BC type [19, 29]. In addition, patients with Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, or Stasis in our study were overweight (BMI > 24).…”

“…Stasis frequently occurs in long-term chronic illnesses and is an important pathology of many disease processes in TCM. Previous studies have demonstrated that Stasis constitution generally exerts the greatest negative effects on HRQOL [19, 29]. Some studies have also reported that Phlegm-Stasis constitutions are induced by hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis [30, 31].…”

“…In TCM philosophy, human beings exhibit vulnerability to particular diseases based on their individual BC, making classification of personal constitutions important. Although previous studies used BCQ to examine the effects of TCM body constitutions in pregnant women and type 2 diabetics, there are no studies that focused on mental illnesses [18, 19]. …”

Yang Deficiency Body Constitution Acts as a Predictor of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Taichung Diabetic Body Constitution Study

“…We launched the Taichung Diabetic Body Constitution Study to evaluate the effect of BC on T2DM patients. Previous results have shown that T2DM patients with Yang deficiency, Yin deficiency, or Phlegm stasis BC had reduced health-related quality of life [ 65 ]. The BC concept can guide TCM physicians to treat patients according to different BCs and improve health conditions by helping patients to adjust their BC status.…”