Research Article

Deqi Sensation to Predict Acupuncture Effect on Functional Dyspepsia: A Machine Learning Study

Table 1

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants.

ItemHigher responders (n = 55)Lower responders (n = 35)Z/χ2 value

Age (years)22.35 ± 2.4622.23 ± 2.90−0.6480.517
Gender (female), n (%)49 (89.1)26 (74.3)3.3760.066
BMI (kg/m2)19.92 ± 2.8320.05 ± 1.80−0.2690.788
Duration (months)45.87 ± 27.7441.29 ± 39.68−1.3210.186
The duration of deqi sensations (minutes)22.91 ± 7.2413.86 ± 8.46−4.626< 0.001
The total score of deqi sensations15.14 ± 8.976.60 ± 4.13−5.011< 0.001
Soreness1.96 ± 2.130.86 ± 1.24−2.3910.017
Numbness2.13 ± 2.400.51 ± 0.95−3.764< 0.001
Heaviness2.40 ± 2.480.89 ± 1.23−2.7180.007
Distention5.65 ± 1.632.43 ± 1.61−6.767< 0.001
Pain1.93 ± 2.171.23 ± 1.50−1.3910.164
Pre-treatment SID4.29 ± 1.362.63 ± 0.88−5.574< 0.001
Post-treatment SID1.45 ± 0.941.86 ± 0.91−1.9560.050
SID change sores2.84 ± 1.120.77 ± 0.49−8.252< 0.001

Results are presented as mean ± SD or number (percentage). BMI, body mass index; SID, symptom index of dyspepsia.