Validation of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Pulse Diagnostic Model
Author Information
Author(s): Anson Chui Yan Tang, Joanne Wai Yee Chung, Thomas Kwok Shing Wong
Primary Institution: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hypothesis
The TCM pulse diagnostic model is not accurate in essential hypertension diagnosis.
Conclusion
The novel TCM pulse diagnostic model is valid and can differentiate essential hypertension from normotension.
Supporting Evidence
- The model achieved about 80% accuracy in differentiating hypertension from normotension.
- Specificity and sensitivity of the model varied from 70% to nearly 90%.
- The content validation index was 0.73, indicating acceptable agreement among experts.
Takeaway
This study created a new way to check if someone has high blood pressure using pulse readings, and it works pretty well.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study with content and criterion validation using an artificial neural network to analyze pulse characteristics.
Potential Biases
Only one TCM doctor performed the pulse diagnosis, which may introduce individual bias.
Limitations
The model is limited to stable hypertensive cases and cannot be generalized to other conditions or diseases.
Participant Demographics
260 subjects, 139 normotensive and 121 hypertensive, with no significant differences in gender, age, or BMI.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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