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Journal of Medical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research

2022 Volume 2 Issue 1

Longitudinal Study on the Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Constitutions and Related Influencing Factors in Women in Hong Kong


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  1. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haizhu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
  2. School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 10 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong.
  3. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.
  4. National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
  5. Hong Kong Breast Cancer Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong.
Abstract

Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution (TCMC) provides valuable insights into an individual’s physical, mental, and overall health profile. Gaining a deeper understanding of TCMC types and their influencing factors may help promote health and prevent disease. While previous cross-sectional studies have identified common characteristics of TCMC and their associated factors, there remains a lack of longitudinal research tracking these changes over time. This follow-up study aimed to investigate how TCMC types evolve and identify the factors influencing their development from baseline to a 4-year follow-up. A cohort of Chinese women in Hong Kong participated in the study, with their TCMC profiles and associated variables assessed at both time points. Of the 249 participants, 81.5% had unbalanced constitutions. Most of the unbalanced constitution types showed a significant increase over time. Stepwise logistic regression showed that poor health conditions (OR = 1.37–2.56), negative effects on body-mind health (OR = 2.70–4.06), and negative emotions (OR = 2.57) were positively associated with specific types of unbalanced TCMC. Conversely, advancing age (OR = 0.91–0.93), consistent physical activity (OR = 0.71), habitual use of TCM practices (OR = 0.12), and menopause (OR = 0.37–0.39) were negatively associated with some types of unbalanced constitution. These findings suggest that various factors can contribute to imbalances in TCMC, while regular exercise and habitual use of TCM practices may help maintain a balanced constitution.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Guo L, He Y, Sun Y, Chan JSM, You J, Jia L, et al. Longitudinal Study on the Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Constitutions and Related Influencing Factors in Women in Hong Kong. J Med Sci Interdiscip Res. 2022;2(1):23-35. https://doi.org/10.51847/B0MHcO112v
APA
Guo, L., He, Y., Sun, Y., Chan, J. S. M., You, J., Jia, L., Wang, Q., Ganesan, K., & Chen, J. (2022). Longitudinal Study on the Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Constitutions and Related Influencing Factors in Women in Hong Kong. Journal of Medical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research, 2(1), 23-35. https://doi.org/10.51847/B0MHcO112v

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