Real-world Chinese herbal medicine for Parkinson's disease: a hospital-based retrospective analysis of electronic medical records

• Published in: Frontiers in aging neuroscience Vol. 16; p. 1362948
• Main Authors: Lyu, Shaohua, Zhang, Claire Shuiqing, Mao, Zhenhui, Guo, Xinfeng, Li, Zhe, Luo, Xiaodong, Sun, Jingbo, Su, Qiaozhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 02.05.2024; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Aging Neuroscience; Angelica sinensis; Astragalus mongholicus; Atractylodes macrocephala; Bu zhong yi qi tang; Bupleurum chinense; Chinese herbal medicine; Chinese medicine; Citrus aurantium; Clinical medicine; Clinical trials; Constipation; Diagnosis; Dopamine; Drug therapy; Dyskinesia; Electronic health records; Electronic medical records; Glycyrrhiza uralensis; Herbal medicine; Hospitals; Medical records; Medicine; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurological disorders; Paeonia lactiflora; Panax ginseng; Parkinson's disease; Patients; Poria cocos; real-world study; Rehmannia glutinosa; Stroke; Traditional Chinese medicine; Tremor; China; real-world study; Chinese herbal medicine; Chinese medicine; Parkinson's disease; electronic medical records; Bu zhong yi qi tang
• ISSN: 1663-4365; 1663-4365
• DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1362948

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. Chinese medicine therapies have demonstrated effectiveness for PD in controlled settings. However, the utilization of Chinese medicine therapies for PD in real-world clinical practice and the characteristics of patients seeking these therapies have not been thoroughly summarized. The study retrospectively analyzed initial patient encounters (PEs) with a first-listed diagnosis of PD, based on electronic medical records from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine between July 2018 and July 2023. A total of 3,206 PEs, each corresponding to an individual patient, were eligible for analyses. Approximately 60% of patients made initial visits to the Chinese medicine hospital after receiving a PD diagnosis, around 4.59 years after the onset of motor symptoms. Over 75% of the patients visited the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic at their initial visits, while a mere 13.85% visited PD Chronic Care Clinic. Rest tremor (61.98%) and bradykinesia (52.34%) are the most commonly reported motor symptoms, followed by rigidity (40.70%). The most commonly recorded non-motor symptoms included constipation (31.88%) and sleep disturbance (25.27%). Integration of Chinese medicine and conventional medicine therapies was the most common treatment method (39.15%), followed by single use of Chinese herbal medicine (27.14%). The most frequently prescribed herbs for PD included Fisch. ( ), Bunge ( ), Koidz. ( ), (Oliv.) Diels ( ), (Gaertn.) DC. ( ), Pall. ( ), DC. ( ), L. ( / ), C. A. Mey. ( ), and (Schw.) Wolf ( ). These herbs contribute to formulation of (BZYQT). Patients typically initiated Chinese medical care after the establishment of PD diagnosis, ~4.59 years post-onset of motor symptoms. The prevalent utilization of CHM decoctions and patented Chinese herbal medicine products, underscores its potential in addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms. Despite available evidence, rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate and optimize the integration of CHM, particularly BZYQT, into therapeutic strategies for PD.