TCM body constitution analysis of CKD patients in Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly severe global health concern with a complicated pathogenesis and interconnected causes and comorbidities. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment may be guided by body constitution theory, which assists in understanding patients’ overall physical condition to improve disease management. This study aims to determine trends in TCM body constitution distribution among CKD patients in Singapore, relating to CKD diagnosis and comorbidities. CKD patients who visited Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution were surveyed using the Three Yin and Three Yang body constitution questionnaire to ascertain body constitution type. Patients’ sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical information was collected. Statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-squared tests. The results of this study showed that Taiyang constitution was most common among CKD patients overall, followed by Taiyin and Shaoyin constitutions. Grouping according to Yin- or Yang-type constitutions revealed increasing Yin-type constitution prevalence as severity of CKD worsened, although variation in constitution distribution was not statistically significant. A significant increase in Yang-type constitutions was seen in patients with the comorbidities hypertension (P=0.028) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (P=0.023). The high prevalence of Taiyang constitution could be linked to Yin deficiency in CKD pathogenesis, patients’ lifestyle habits and the Singapore environment.