The Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes of psoriasis in Chinese patients: Contribution of demographic and clinical variables

Abstract

This article was to examine the specific contribution of demographic, medical and psychological variables to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Syndromes of psoriasis. A cross-sectional survey of psoriasis patients was conducted at 7 hospitals of TCM of different regions. In all, 671 psoriasis patients underwent a clinical assessment including differentiation of TCM syndromes and psoriasis severity (assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, PASI). Patients also completed questions on demographic data and a quality of life scale (Dermatology Life Quality Index, DLQI). The three main TCM syndromes were included: 354 patients with Wind-heat (52.8%), 161 with Blood-stasis (24.0%), and 156 with Blood-dryness (23.2%). They distributed differently in subgroups of patients with different gender, age, chronic disease, duration of psoriasis, PASI, and DLQI score. The TCM syndromes were close related to demographic and clinical conditions of patients. TCM clinical treatment should consider both characteristics of syndrome and demographic variables of psoriasis.