TCM body constitution study of patients with hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension is a global health concern. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is becoming popular and often used among hypertensive patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitution (TCMBC) is part of the TCM concept. Currently, in Singapore, there is no study focusing on the types of TCMBC that Singapore residents with hypertension have. The objective of this study is to investigate the TCMBC of Singapore residents with hypertension, henceforth providing epidemiological evidence for the theory of correlation between TCM body constitution and disease.A questionnaire was designed to target a total of 35 hypertensive Singapore residents. Phlegm-dampness, qi-deficiency, yang-deficiency, and yin-deficiency constitutions were the dominant constitution types of hypertension in Singapore. Phlegm-dampness constitution was significantly higher in the age above 60 than in the 20-39 (P=0.003). Yang-deficiency constitution in the 20-39 was significantly higher than in the 40-59 (P=0.027). Qi-deficiency constitution was significantly higher in males than in females (P=0.040) while yin-deficiency in females was significantly higher than in males (P=0.036). Phlegm-dampness, qi-deficiency, yang-deficiency, and yin-deficiency constitutions were the major influential factors of hypertension in Singapore. Personalized treatment and prevention of hypertension could be given based on a person’s constitution.