Modified Jade Wind-Barrier Formula (MJWB) for Preventing Common Cold in Elderly with Qi-deficiency Constitution: A Controlled Trial

The modified Jade Wind-Barrier formula (MJWB) may prevent the common cold in the elderly with a Qi-deficiency Constitution. Previously, no controlled trial evidence existed to illuminate the concept of “preventive treatment of disease” as outlined in the constitution theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This theory distinctly suggests that enhancing the Qi-deficiency Constitution and modulating its functional state can prevent the occurrence of the common cold. This controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05640570) targeted Hong Kong elderly with Qi-deficiency Constitution with at least one common cold incidence per year. The two co-primary outcomes are the total score of the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the incidence of the common cold. Throughout the 3-month prevention study, 98 out of 109 (89.9%) participants in the MJWB arm and 100 out of 109 (91.7%) participants in the control arm finished the trial. MJWB significantly improved the clinical features of the Qi-deficiency Constitution compared to that in the control arm (mean difference -2.9, 95% CI -4.5 to -1.3, p < 0.001). It particularly improved the three clinical features: “Easily get tired” (mean difference -0.6, 95% CI -0.8 to -0.3, p < 0.001), “Shortness of breath” (mean difference -0.2, 95% CI -0.4 to -0.1, p = 0.012), and “Lack of energy” (mean difference -0.3, 95% CI -0.5 to -0.0, p = 0.021). MJWB also significantly improved IgG (p < 0.001) compared with the baseline of prevention among the MJWB arm. However, the common cold incidence (odd ratio 0.9, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.6, p = 0.756), the number of persistent days (mean difference 0.1, 95% CI -1.4 to 1.5, p = 0.929), and the total Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score (mean difference -7.1, 95% CI -21.6 to 7.4, p = 0.336) showed no difference between the two arms. MJWB can significantly improve the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the IgG level, suggesting that MJWB may be helpful for participants regarding the related clinical symptoms and their potential consequences. There is no statistically significant difference in the common cold incidence, the duration of its persistence, or the common cold symptom scores when comparing the MJWB users and the non-users. A large-scale trial is worth further investigating the preventive effect of MJWB for the common cold and whether the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the IgG level improvements can help prevent the common cold in the elderly.