Clinical characteristics according to traditional medicine in patients with chronic heart failure and some related factors

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic heart failure is a complex syndrome caused by structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart. It is one of the leading causes of mortality and poses significant financial and social burdens. Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics according to traditional medicine in patients with chronic heart failure and explore some correlations between clinical patterns in traditional medicine and chronic heart failure. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study on 160 patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure who were receiving inpatient treatment at the Cardiovascular Center of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. Results: Among the patients, 36.9% had pale tongues; 31.3% had red tongues; 28.1% had tongues with blood stasis spots, and 19.4% had purplish-blue tongues. Tongue coatings were white in 83.8% of patients and thin in 86.9%. Pulse characteristics included deep pulse in 90.6%; thin pulse in 34.4%; wiry pulse in 20.6%; slippery pulse in 16.9%; knotted or large pulse in 15.6%; weak pulse in 10.6%; and floating pulse in 9.4%. Regarding other systemic symptoms: 79.4% experienced shortness of breath or dyspnea; 73.8% had insomnia; 18.8% had dry cough; 28.8% had productive cough; 43.1% had spontaneous sweating; 43.1% experienced restlessness, and 18.7% had night sweats. The distribution of traditional medicine clinical patterns included: Qi and Yin deficiency (21.3%); Qi deficiency with blood stasis (19.4%); Qi stagnation with blood stasis (16.9%); Yang deficiency with water retention (16.9%); and Phlegm-turbidity obstruction (9.4%). There was a statistically significant correlation between gender and clinical patterns (p<0.05). Conclusion: Common clinical symptoms included deep pulse, thin pulse, white tongue coating, thin or absent tongue coating, shortness of breath, insomnia, poor appetite, and restlessness. There was a correlation between gender and traditional medicine clinical patterns.