Association Between the Traditional Chinese Medicine Nine Body Constitution Types and the Western Medicine Complications of Hypertension Among Adult Filipino Hypertensive Patients

Meriam  B. Macalisang,

Association Between the Traditional Chinese Medicine Nine Body Constitution Types and the Western Medicine Complications of Hypertension Among Adult Filipino Hypertensive Patients

Abstract:

Introduction Hypertension (HTN) has been referred to as the leading global silent killer and has impacted signifcantly on Filipino mortality for several decades. This study determined the association of Wang Qi’s nine body constitution (BC) types of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and HTN complications, as defned by Western Medicine (WM), among adult Filipinos. Methods This was an analytical cross-sectional study that determined the association of each of the BC types and the complications of HTN among adult Filipino hypertensive patients using the validated Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). The signifcance of the association was determined using chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for small samples when applicable. Results The study recruited 1,997 participants from selected private and government TCM and WM health facilities. Among Filipino hypertensive patients, majority were classifed as Qi, Yang, and Yin defcient BC types, with these classes being associated with psychological complications of HTN, with prevalence odds ratio (POR) of 1.23 (p = 0.031), 1.48 (p < 0.001), and 1.61 (p < 0.001), respectively. Likewise, Yin defcient BC type was signifcantly associated with cardiovascular complications of HTN (POR 2.21, p = 0.037). Conclusion There was an association between the TCM nine BC types with the WM complications of HTN among adult Filipino patients. Among the hypertensive patients classifed into the TCM nine BC types, three defcient BC types -- Yin defcient, Qi defcient and Yang defcient were associated with the psychological complications of HTN. Yin defcient BC type was also associated with cardiovascular complications.

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