Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences (Jul 2024)

Characteristics and demographic factors of traditional Chinese medicine constitution types among elderly individuals in China: A national multistage cluster random study

  • Jing Xia,
  • Minghua Bai,
  • Huirong Song,
  • Houqin Li,
  • Dayan Zhang,
  • Mary Y. Jiang,
  • Ran Chen,
  • Feiyu He,
  • Cheng Ni

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 3
pp. 257 – 263

Abstract

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Objective: To reveal the distribution characteristics and demographic factors of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution among elderly individuals in China. Methods: Elderly individuals from seven regions in China were selected as samples in this study using a multistage cluster random sampling method. The basic information questionnaire and Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (Elderly Edition) were used. Descriptive statistical analysis, chi-squared tests, and binary logistic regression analysis were used. Results: The single balanced constitution (BC) accounted for 23.9%. The results of the major TCM constitution types showed that BC (43.2%) accounted for the largest proportion and unbalanced constitutions ranged from 0.9% to 15.7%. East China region (odds ratio [OR] = 2.097; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.912 to 2.301), married status (OR = 1.341; 95% CI, 1.235 to 1.457), and managers (OR = 1.254; 95% CI, 1.044 to 1.505) were significantly associated with BC. Age >70 years was associated with qi-deficiency constitution and blood stasis constitution (BSC). Female sex was significantly associated with yang-deficiency constitution (OR = 1.646; 95% CI, 1.52 to 1.782). Southwest region was significantly associated with phlegm-dampness constitution (OR = 1.809; 95% CI, 1.569 to 2.086). North China region was significantly associated with inherited special constitution (OR = 2.521; 95% CI, 1.569 to 4.05). South China region (OR = 2.741; 95% CI, 1.997 to 1.3.763), Central China region (OR = 8.889; 95% CI, 6.676 to 11.835), senior middle school education (OR = 2.442; 95% CI, 1.932 to 3.088), and managers (OR = 1.804; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.69) were significantly associated with BSC. Conclusions: This study defined the distribution characteristics and demographic factors of TCM constitution in the elderly population. Adjusting and improving unbalanced constitutions, which are correlated with diseases, can help promote healthy aging through the scientific management of these demographic factors.

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