The Quintessence of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Syndrome and Its Distribution among Advanced Cancer Patients with Constipation
Table 4
Prevalence of symptoms and signs among three patterns.
Deficiency ()
Excess ()
Complex ()
value
Pale/sallow complexion
59 (46.5%)
0 (0%)
28 (30.8%)
0.007
Bitter taste
28 (22.0%)
2 (28.6%)
37 (40.7%)
0.012
Fatigue
122 (96.1%)
4 (57.1%)
82 (90.1%)
<0.001
Mind disquieted/susceptible to fright
66 (52.0%)
0 (0%)
50 (54.9%)
0.019
Belching/nausea/vomiting
18 (14.2%)
4 (57.1%)
57 (62.6%)
<0.001
Stuffiness and fullness of chest
5 (3.9%)
1 (14.3%)
40 (44.0%)
<0.001
Abdominal distension/pain
9 (7.1%)
1 (14.3%)
57 (62.6%)
<0.001
Water retention (with pleural/abdominal fluid)
0 (0%)
1 (14.3%)
13 (14.3%)
<0.001
Anorexia
47 (37.0%)
1 (14.3%)
46 (50.5%)
0.044
Insomnia
36 (28.3%)
4 (57.1%)
40 (44.0%)
0.029
Vacuous pulse
9 (7.1%)
3 (42.9%)
5 (5.5%)
0.001
Description of constipation symptoms
Inadequate pushing force during defecation
54 (42.5%)
1 (14.3%)
58 (63.7%)
0.001
Incomplete defecation
20 (15.7%)
0 (0%)
27 (29.7%)
0.017
Difficult defecation
31 (24.4%)
1 (14.3%)
37 (40.7%)
0.024
Deficiency: deficient pattern; excess: excessive pattern; complex: deficiency-excess complex. Only the symptoms and signs with significant differences among three syndrome patterns were listed in the table.
