The correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndrome groups and nutritional status in cancer patients

• Main Authors: Li-Yu Wang, 王儷餘
• Other Authors: Chung-Hua Hsu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/40504561779976199704

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 傳統醫藥研究所 === 101 === More and more cancer patients are seeking alternative treatment, and Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）has been applied in cancer care for a few decades already. Although there were studies that had evaluated the relationship between malnutrition and quality of life（QOL）in cancer patients, the study want to find out weather TCM syndrome groups would paly a factor in the nutritional status of cancer patients. The goal of this article was to explore the association between the TCM syndrome groups and nutritional status in cancer patients. In different TCM syndrome groups and nutritional status, the study also want to understand the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue（CRF）and QOL in cancer patients. It was an observational study. Our team recuited cancer patients as subjects from the Linsen branch of Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan. For data collection, the TCM syndrome group questionnaire, scored Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment questionnaires（PG-SGA）, Proposed ICD-10 Criteria for Cancer-Related Fatigue questionnaire, WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version, and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey（SF-12）were adopted for usage. There are six TCM syndrome groups in the TCM syndrome group questionnaire— qi deficiency syndrome, blood deficiency syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome, qi stagnation syndrome, blood stasis syndrome. The nutritional status was assessed by the scored Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment questionnaire, and cancer patients were categorized into three nutrition status groups. The Proposed ICD-10 Criteria for Cancer-Related Fatigue questionnaire was used in diagnosing CRF. QOL was assessed by the WHO-BREF Taiwan version and SF-12 questionnaires. 160 cancer patients completed the series of questionnaires. The percentage of TCM syndrome groups from the highest to lowest was qi deficiency syndrome group, qi stagnation syndrome group, yin deficiency syndrome group, blood deficiency syndrome group, yang deficiency syndrome group, blood stasis syndrome group. The most common TCM syndrome in cancer patients was qi deficiency syndrome. No matter what category the cancer patients were in, more than half of them were in the qi deficiency syndrome group. Patients with qi deficiency syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome or qi stagnation syndrome had significantly poorer nutritional status and significantly higher percentage of CRF than those without these TCM syndromes. In nutritional status, when nutritional status was poorer , the percentage of patients with qi deficiency syndrome, blood deficiency syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome or qi stagnation syndrome was significantly higher and qulity of life was significantly poorer.There was no statistically significant differences between nutritional status and CRF. The study confirmed that TCM syndrome groups has an association with nutritional status. Patients with qi deficiency syndrom, yang deficiency syndrome or qi stagnation syndrome had significantly higher PG-SGA scores and significantly higher percentage of CRF than those without TCM syndrome. Upon the diagnosis of cancer patients with presence of these TCM syndrome, it would be helpful in treatment implement of cancer care. When we meet cancer patients with the TCM syndromes that showed significant association with nutritional status such as qi deficiency syndrome group, yang deficiency syndrome group or qi stagnation syndrome group, we should take notice of their nutritional status.