A Study on the Diagnostic Value of Commonly Used Clinical Nutritional Quantitative Indicators for the Diagnosis of Qi and Blood Deficiency Syndrome in Elderly Patients

Objective: To diagnose qi and blood deficiency syndromes using common nutritional quantitative indicators. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1049 hospitalized elderly patients (mean age 71 years). On admission, TCM syndrome differentiation and nutritional assessment were performed; TCM syndrome types, BMI, hemoglobin (Hb), LY, and ALB were recorded. Differences in nutritional indicators between the qi and blood deficiency and nondeficiency groups were compared ( P < 0.05 for significance). Logistic regression analyzed the impact of nutritional indicators (independent variables) on the syndrome (dependent variable), with OR as the effect value. Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to assess diagnostic value via AUC. Results: The prevalence of qi and blood deficiency syndrome was 13.06%. BMI, Hb, LY, and ALB in the deficiency group were lower ( P < 0.05). Higher levels of these indicators were protective factors (OR: 0.848, 0.980, 0.446, 0.950; all P < 0.05). BMI (AUC = 0.312), Hb (AUC = 0.390), and LY (AUC = 0.362) had diagnostic value (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Low BMI, Hb, and LY have potential diagnostic value for the syndrome of qi and blood deficiency, and can serve as objective reference criteria for TCM pattern differentiation.