Efficacy of combined lung and heart treatment method for yang deficiency with water overflowing type Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of combined lung and heart treatment (CLHT) for Yang deficiency with water overflowing type chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methodology: This is a prospective cohort study. A total of 92 patients with this TCM subtype COPD admitted to Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 46) and control (n = 46) groups from December 2020 to February 2023. The control group received standard Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guideline-based inhaled therapy. The treatment group received oral Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) decoction for twelve weeks. TCM symptom scores, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and -8, annual acute exacerbation frequency and adverse events were used for treatment evaluation.

Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable (P > 0.05). Post-treatment, both groups showed significant reductions in TCM symptom scores, CAT scores, IL-6 and -8 levels and annual acute exacerbation frequency (P < 0.05), with greater improvements in the treatment group (P < 0.05). FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC showed significant improvement only in the treatment group (P < 0.05), with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC higher in the treatment group than the control (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the treatment group achieved a higher total efficacy rate (90 % vs. 64. 1%; χ² = 7.258; P < 0.05) without drug-related adverse events.

Conclusion: The CLHT method improved the clinical efficacy of Yang deficiency with water overflowing type COPD treatment, alleviated clinical symptoms, enhanced patients’ quality of life, improved pulmonary function and reduced annual acute exacerbation frequency.