암 환자와 건강인의 맥상과 사상체질에 관한 비교 연구

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in pulse wave characteristics in patients with cancer compared with healthy subjects, and to analyze differences according to Sasang constitution. Furthermore, this study aimed to investigate the potential applicability of pulse wave analysis as an objective indicator for assessing the health status of cancer patients and for developing Sasang constitution-based management. Methods This study was designed as a retrospective comparative study involving 139 participants, including 76 healthy subjects and 63 cancer patients. Sasang constitutional diagnosis and pulse wave measurements were performed for all participants. Pulse wave measurements were obtained using the automated robotic pulse analyzer equipped with five pressure sensors. Results In the comparison of pulse wave variables between cancer patients and healthy subjects, cancer patients showed higher contact pressure, variance of total time, and ratio of systolic period area, but lower ratio of diastolic period area, and tended to exhibit a relatively sinking pulse (沈脈) in terms of pulse depth. In the comparison of cancer patients' pulse wave variables according to Sasang constitution, the time to preincisura (t2) was longest in the Taeumin and shortest in the Soyangin, while the ratios of time to preincisura to total time (t2/t) and time to tidal wave to total time (t3/t) were highest in the Taeumin and lowest in the Soyangin. Conclusions Based on the above results, monitoring pulse wave variables may be useful for evaluating the health status of cancer patients and supporting Sasang constitutional diagnosis.