Herbal interventions in dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease: a comprehensive analysis at Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly prevalent health crisis where TCM may be used as complementary treatment. The study aims to determine patient characteristics, concomitant symptoms and core herbs from TCM prescriptions of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution (STCMI). Data of ESRD patients who underwent dialysis from 1 January 2016 and 13 May 2024 were acquired from STCMI electronic medical record system. Baseline characteristics analysis and concomitant symptoms were calculated, and Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) was analysed using Gu Jin Yi An Yun Platform V2.3.7 for herbal frequency and properties, association analysis, and core prescription network analysis. 2158 herbal prescriptions from 35 ESRD patients were analysed. Core herbs identified were Astragali Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Spatholobi Caulis, Schisandra Chinensis Fructus, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle. The combination of herbs identified were like classical herbal prescriptions such as Sheng Mai Yin and Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang, thus providing valuable information about the herbs commonly used in ESRD treatment.