Exploration of influential factors about Qi-deficiency constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine based on multi-methods

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.03.020

Abstract

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To find more influencing factors Qi-deficiency constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) using dynamic and comprehensive information.
METHODS: Because grey relational analysis (GRA) is good at processing incomplete information and has no special requirements for sample size and distribution. We acquired 2122 pieces of valid Qi-deficiency constitution dynamic data after preprocessing, and used GRA combing with χ ² test and multivariate logistic regression analysis to discover and sort the influencing factors of Qi-deficiency constitution.
RESULTS: For the calculation results of GRA, there were 10 (62.5%) aspects whose grey correlation degrees were greater than 0.6. The results of χ ²test showed that all the above 10 aspects were statistically significant with Qi-deficiency constitution. The analysis results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the following factors were positively correlated with Qi-deficiency constitution: premature birth, sleeping late and getting up early, sleeping late and getting up late, irregular sleeping, sleeping 6.0-6.9 h per day, artificial feeding, female, age at 18-19, and father’s age at 18-19 years old when a baby at birth. The following factors were negatively correlated with Qi-deficiency constitution: sleeping 8.0-8.9 h per day and ≥ 9.0 h per day, and age at 30-39 and 40-49 years old.
CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to pay attention to these innate and acquired information of individuals which may lead to Qi-deficiency constitution. And our research also provides a novel methodological thinking for analyzing the influential factors of TCM constitution.

Key words: Qi-deficiency constitution, influencing factors, grey relational analysis, univariate analysis, multivariate analysis

LUO Yue, CHENG Xiaoen, JIANG Luxia, SU Biliang, ZHAO Yuxin, OU Jintao, WEN Chuanbiao. Exploration of influential factors about Qi-deficiency constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine based on multi-methods[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(3): 693-701.

Figures/Tables 6

Figure 1 Visualization of Qi-deficiency constitution and the influential factors

Table 1 Distribution of the 10 factors for LRA

Factor		Balanced constitution		Qi-deficiency constitution
Factor		Numbers	Ratio (%)	Numbers	Ratio (%)
Birth ways	Natural birth	1900	89.5	1896	89.4
	Caesarean	198	9.3	177	8.3
	Premature birth	4	0.2	24	1.1
	Dystocia	20	1.0	25	1.2
Sleeping habits	Sleeping early and getting up early	909	42.8	487	23.0
	Sleeping early and getting up late	84	4.0	49	2.3
	Sleeping late and getting up early	545	25.7	702	33.1
	Sleeping late and getting up late	329	15.5	493	23.2
	Irregular	255	12.0	391	18.4
Exercising habits	Exercising regularly	437	20.6	313	14.7
	Exercising occasionally	909	42.8	789	37.2
	No exercising	776	36.6	1020	48.1
Feeding ways within 4 months after birth	Breast feeding	1752	82.5	1678	79.1
	Mixed feeding	250	11.8	282	13.3
	Artificial feeding	120	5.7	162	7.6
Gender	Male	1011	47.6	731	34.4
Gender	Female	1111	52.4	1391	65.6
Living years	1-9	695	32.8	553	26.1
	10-19	605	28.5	718	33.8
	20-29	558	26.3	604	28.4
	30-39	138	6.5	114	5.4
	40-50	126	5.9	133	6.3
Age (years)	18-19	1128	53.2	481	22.7
	20-29	318	15.0	1077	50.7
	30-39	386	18.2	311	14.7
	40-49	255	12	212	10.0
	50-60	35	1.6	41	1.9
Sleeping duration (h/d)	<6.0	31	1.4	54	2.5
	6.0-6.9	193	9.1	292	13.7
	7.0-7.9	681	32.1	782	36.9
	8.0-8.9	918	43.3	789	37.2
	>=9.0	299	14.1	205	9.7
Maternal age at birth (years)	17-19	40	1.9	37	1.8
	20-24	1029	48.5	1032	48.6
	25-29	686	32.3	766	36.1
	30-34	238	11.2	198	9.3
	35-62	129	6.1	89	4.2
Paternal age at birth (years)	18-19	9	0.4	24	1.1
	20-24	685	32.3	663	31.2
	25-29	841	39.6	902	42.5
	30-34	347	16.4	317	15.0
	35-63	240	11.3	216	10.2

Table 2 Results of χ 2 test

Factor	$χ 2$ value	P value
Birth ways	16.021	0.001
Exercising habits	62.131	<0.001
Feeding ways within 4 months after birth	9.777	0.008
Gender	76.341	<0.001
Age	60.685	<0.001
Maternal age at birth	15.538	0.004
Paternal age at birth	11.931	0.018
Sleeping duration	60.685	<0.001
Living years	30.105	<0.001
Sleeping habits	217.896	<0.001

Table 2 Results of χ 2 test

Factor	$χ 2$ value	P value
Birth ways	16.021	0.001
Exercising habits	62.131	<0.001
Feeding ways within 4 months after birth	9.777	0.008
Gender	76.341	<0.001
Age	60.685	<0.001
Maternal age at birth	15.538	0.004
Paternal age at birth	11.931	0.018
Sleeping duration	60.685	<0.001
Living years	30.105	<0.001
Sleeping habits	217.896	<0.001

Table 3 Results of multicollinearity diagnosis

Factor	TOL	VIF
Birth ways	0.973	1.028
Sleeping habits	0.865	1.156
Living years	0.886	1.129
Exercising habits	0.817	1.224
Feeding ways within 4 months after birth	0.967	1.034
Gender	0.899	1.112
Age	0.843	1.187
Sleeping duration	0.965	1.036
Maternal age at birth	0.935	1.07
Paternal age at birth	0.96	1.042

Figure 2 Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis B: coefficient (B); S.E.: standard error; P: P-value; Exp (B): odds ratio (exponential of B); 95% Cl: 95% confidence interval; Wald: Wald statistic.

Figure 3 ROC curve of Regression AUC: area under curve.

References 43.

1.	Wang Q. The theory of TCM constitution. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2009: 2-6.
2.	China Association of Chinese Medicine. Classification and judgment of TCM constitution (ZYYXH/T157-2009). Shi Jie Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2009; 4: 303-4.
3.	Wang QF, Wang QB, Wang Q. The guiding function of TCM constitution theory to disease prevention. Liaoning Zhong Yi Za Zhi 1993; 36: 15-8.
4.	Deng XM, Teng JL, Nong XC, et al. Characteristics of TCM constitution and related biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment. Neuropsychiatric Dis Treat 2021; 17: 1115-24.
5.	Wang J, Wang Q, Li LR, et al. Phlegm-dampness constitution: genomics, susceptibility, adjustment and treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Am J Chin Med 2013; 41: 253-62.
6.	Zhu YB, Wang Q, Deng QW, Cai J, Song XH, Yan X. Study on the correlation between TCM constitution type and hypertension. J Chin Integr Med 2010; 8: 40-5.
7.	Li Y, Li XH, Huang X, et al. Individualized prevention against hypertension based on Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution theory a large community-based retrospective, STROBE-compliant study among Chinese population. Medicine 2017; 96: e8513.
8.	Wu C, Yin YJ, Jia ZH. Distribution of TCM Constitution and characteristics of pulmonary nodules in patients with pulmonary nodules. Beijing Zhong Yi Yao Da Xue Xue Bao 2021; 44: 1049-56.
9.	Zhang Q, Yang DD, Ding CY, Liu JM. Correlation analysis between traditional Chinese constitution and comorbidity of 221 adults with epilepsy. Zhong Hua Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi 2019; 34: 5369-73.
10.	Bao YJ, Hu JY, Qin YN. Relationship between acute mastitis and constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Chinese breastfeeding mothers. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2021; 2021: 2255511.
11.	Lai NS, Lu MC, Chang HH, et al. Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine body constitution and health-related quality of life in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2021; 2021: 5568219.
12.	Wang YY, Zhu YB, Di J, Lin L. Correlation between tobacco and alcohol use and Traditional Chinese Medicine constitutions: an analysis based on a sample from general population of China. J Tradit Chin Med 2013; 33: 642-6. PMID
13.	Ma K, Chen JY, Kuang LY, et al. Qi-deficiency related increases in disease susceptibility are potentially mediated by the intestinal microbiota. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2018; 2018: 1304397.
14.	Sun YZ, Liu P, Zhao Y, et al. Characteristics of TCM constitutions of adult Chinese women in Hong Kong and identification of related influencing factors: a cross-sectional survey. J Transl Med 2014; 12: 140. DOI PMID
15.	Deng JL. Grey system theory course. Wuhan: Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology Press, 1990: 5-10.
16.	Liu SF. Grey system theory and its application. 8th ed. Beijing: Science Press, 2017: 1-11.
17.	Ma Y. The application of connective analysis method from grey system theory to social medicine research. Zhong Guo She Hui Yi Xue 1991; 7: 22-4.
18.	Aydemir E, Sahin Y. Evaluation of healthcare service quality factors using grey relational analysis in a dialysis center. Grey Syst Theory Appl 2019; 9: 432-48.
19.	Yan Y, Cai H, Zhao H, et al. Quality evaluation of Eucommiae cortex processed by different methods and "sweating" conditions based on simultaneous determination of multiple bioactive constituents combined with gray relational analysis. J Sep Sci 2018; 41: 1050-62. DOI PMID
20.	Zhang HW, Zhu XS. TCM diagnosis and reasoning method based on grey relational analysis. Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi 2007; 24: 206-9.
21.	Deng JL. Proceedings of grey systems. Wuhan: Huazhong University of Science and Technology Press, 1989: 286-357.
22.	Zhou HL, Fan T. Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen. Henan: Henan Science and Technology Publishing House, 2017: 172.
23.	Wang Q. Classification and diagnosis basis of nine basic constitutions in Chinese medicine. Beijing Zhong Yi Yao Da Xue Xue Bao 2005; 28: 1-8.
24.	Lyu F. Research on the identification coefficient of relational grade for grey system. Xi Tong Gong Cheng Li Lun Yu Shi Jian 1997; 17: 49-54.
25.	Dong YB, Duan ZS. A new determination method for identification coefficient of grey relational grade. Xian Jian Zhu Ke Ji Da Xue Xue Bao (Zi Ran Ke Xue Ban) 2008; 40: 589-92.
26.	Wei M, Gao P, Feng XZ, Liu JP, Liu ZY, Zhang Y. Research on the application of improved grey correlation method in risk assessment of debris flow. Gansu Shui Li Shui Dian Ji Shu 2020; 56: 16-20.
27.	Li WH, Xu JH, Sun CG. Spatial and temporal evolution of Shenzhen’s eco-environment and urban sprawl based on grey correlation degree. Sheng Tai Huan Jing Xue Bao 2021; 30: 880-8.
28.	Pan ZX, Xu K. Research on innovation and entrepreneurship policy efficiency based on grey correlation analysis. Ke Ji Chuang Ye Yue Kan 2021; 35: 13-7.
29.	Li Z, Qiao XD, Yang Y, et al. Quality evaluation of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix decoction pieces by entropy weight and gray relative analysis method. Zhong Guo Xian Dai Ying Yong Yao Xue 2022; 39: 61-7.
30.	Bao HM, Chi ET, Ye TF. Grey correlation analysis of factors affecting ultraviolet aging of colored asphalt mixture. Hua Qiao Da Xue Xue Bao (Zi Ran Ke Xue Ban) 2020; 41: 466-73.
31.	He X, Lin ZS, Liu HY, Qi XZ. Analysis of the driving factors of PM2.5 in Jiangsu province based on grey correlation model. Di Li Xue Bao 2016; 71: 1119-29.
32.	Yao TW, Wang QL, Pan SL, et al. Influences of healthy adults in different ages, different personalities on TCM pulse graph. Zhong Hua Zhong Yi Yao Xue Kan 2015; 33: 2775-7.
33.	Yu W, Zhang ZZ. Age-based grouping criteria in medicine. Zhong Guo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao 2023; 45: 285-9.
34.	Zhang H, Zhu YB, Zhang Q, et al. Dose-response relationship between sleep duration and Qi-deficiency constitution of middle-aged and elderly adults-based on restricted cubic spline model. Beijing Zhong Yi Yao Da Xue Xue Bao 2021; 44: 830-6.
35.	Xie YS, Zhu YB, Xu J, et al. Effect of sleep duration and the time of falling asleep on Yin-deficiency constitution. Zhong Guo Quan Ke Yi Xue 2020; 23: 209-14.
36.	Jia ZK, Luo ZH, Wang SJ. Fertility time choice and influencing factors of urban working youth: based on the empirical investigation and analysis of 983 urban youth. Xi Bei Ren Kou 2023; 44: 52-64.
37.	Ni JY, Chen LL, Chen LJ, Huangpu XF, Yu HT. Relationship between maternal age and adverse birth outcomes and inspiration for appropriate age of childbearing. Xian Dai Yu Fang Yi Xue 2021; 48: 3720-4+53.
38.	Wang Q. Reconsideration of the three key scientific issues of TCM constitution and its prospect: speech at the 19th academic annual meeting of the TCM constitution branch, China association of Chinese medicine. Beijing Zhong Yi Yao Da Xue Xue Bao 2021; 44: 1061-6.
39.	Yan H, Zhu YB, Cai T, et al. Correlation between delivery process, feeding modes and the constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Zhong Hua Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi 2018; 33: 4689-92.
40.	Lu J, Zhu YB, Shi HM, et al. Analysis of correlation between the sleep time and Chinese medicine constitutional type. Zhong Yi Za Zhi 2016; 57: 2089-93.
41.	Yao FX, Wang P, Liu LJ. Study on TCM constitution state of 177 patients with insomnia in Guangxi and logistic regression analysis of sleep quality. Shi Jie Ke Xue Ji Shu-Zhong Yi Yao Xian Dai Hua 2021; 23: 3003-13.
42.	Yu BY, Bi JL, Chen J, Zhao XS, Luo R. Study on TCM construction of Qi-deficiency among female sub-healthy under-graduate students. Shi Zhen Guo Yi Guo Yao 2013; 24: 1966-8.
43.	Wu QL. Association between the built environment and elderly residents' physique from the perspective of TCM: a case study in Zhanjiang city. Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology, 2020: 46-107.

Home

Online First

Author Center

Reviewer Center

Issues

Announcement

About Us