Liao Chung-Chih, Chien Chi-Hsien, Yu Teng-Shun, Li Jung-Miao
Department of Post-Baccalaureate Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, 41354, Taiwan.
Chuyuan Chinese Medicine Clinic, Taichung, 40455, Taiwan.
J Multidiscip Healthc. 2023 Dec 8;16:3959-3973. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S442816. eCollection 2023.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), a major branch of traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported to exert beneficial effects on PCOS symptoms. However, the relationship between CHM use and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with PCOS remains unclear. The study aimed to investigate the potential protective role of CHM on CHD incidence in patients with PCOS and to understand CHM prescription patterns for PCOS treatment.
This retrospective cohort study was performed using data from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000). Patients with PCOS were identified, and data on their demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and medication use were extracted. The patients were then divided into CHM and non-CHM users.
Propensity score matching yielded two balanced cohorts of 2913 individuals each. CHM users demonstrated a 94% reduced risk of CHD compared to non-CHM users (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.1) during the 19-year follow-up period. Stratified analysis confirmed the benefits of CHM treatment on the incidence of CHD across various subgroups. The key elements identified in the CHM prescription patterns associated with reduced CHD risk were Xiang Fu, Yi Mu Cao, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San, and Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan.
This study provides evidence that CHM may protect against CHD development in patients with PCOS. It is also highlight the most frequently prescribed CHM for mitigating CHD risk among patients with PCOS. These findings lay the groundwork for future studies to confirm and elucidate CHM's therapeutic mechanisms in PCOS-related CHD prevention, offering a significant contribution to the field.
多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）是育龄期女性常见的内分泌紊乱疾病。中药作为传统中医的一个主要分支，已被报道对PCOS症状有有益作用。然而，PCOS患者使用中药与冠心病（CHD）风险之间的关系仍不清楚。本研究旨在探讨中药对PCOS患者CHD发病率的潜在保护作用，并了解PCOS治疗的中药处方模式。
本回顾性队列研究使用了台湾2000年纵向健康保险数据库（LHID2000）的数据。识别出PCOS患者，并提取其人口统计学特征、合并症和用药情况的数据。然后将患者分为中药使用者和非中药使用者。
倾向得分匹配产生了两个各有2913人的平衡队列。在19年的随访期内，与非中药使用者相比，中药使用者患CHD的风险降低了94%（调整后风险比，0.06；95%置信区间为0.04 - 0.1）。分层分析证实了中药治疗对各亚组CHD发病率的益处。与降低CHD风险相关的中药处方模式中确定的关键成分是香附、益母草、加味逍遥散和桂枝茯苓丸。
本研究提供了证据表明中药可能预防PCOS患者发生CHD。它还突出了在降低PCOS患者CHD风险方面最常用的中药。这些发现为未来研究证实和阐明中药在预防PCOS相关CHD中的治疗机制奠定了基础，为该领域做出了重大贡献。
