Study on distribution rules of TCM four diagnostic information based on complex network in patients with CHD angina pectoris

Objective: To study the distribution rules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic information in patients with CHD angina pectoris. Methods: The clinical data of 417 patients with CHD angina pectoris were collected and analyzed retrospectively. A complex network of TCM diagnostic information was set up using Liquorice and the network nodes were clustered. Results: Two layers of networks were generated. The first layer included 17 symptomatic nodes focusing on seven symptom nodes including chest distress, chest pain, palpitation, dark purple tongue, chest prickling, dizziness and string pulse. The 15 nodes in the second layer was clustered into 6 symptomatic groups as follows: (1)dysphoria with feverish sensation in chest, palms and soles, and dreaminess; (2)indentation tongue, bulgy tongue, and loose stool; (3)amnesia, aversion to cold, and white coating;(4)nausea and vomiting, and edema of lower legs; (5)chest dull pain, and light white tongue; (6)weak pulse, palpitation, and weak breath and laziness to speak. Conclusions: The main symptoms of patients with CHD angina pectoris primarily include chest distress, chest pain, palpitation and so on, or accompanied with symptoms like aversion to cold, poor spirit and fatigue, short breath, greasy coating, yellow coating, slippery pulse, pant, insomnia and sweating, etc. This disease is located in heart, and is in close association with lung, spleen, liver and kidney. It is primarily characterized by blood stasis, accompanied with yang deficiency, blood deficiency, qi deficiency, as well as phlegm and dampness.