The Journal of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회)
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Effects of Korean Medicine Treatment at Public Health Center for Post-acute COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Case-series of 11 patients

일개 보건지소에 내원한 급성기 후 코로나-19 환자들의 특성 및 한의 치료 효과 분석: 사례군 연구

  • Chang-hwan Yu (Daeso Branch office of Eumseong Public Health Center) ;
  • Kwan-Il Kim (Division of Allergy, Immune and Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Hee-Jae Jung (Division of Allergy, Immune and Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Beom-joon Lee (Division of Allergy, Immune and Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
  • 유창환 (음성군 보건소 대소보건지소) ;
  • 김관일 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실) ;
  • 정희재 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실) ;
  • 이범준 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실)
  • Received : 2023.04.19
  • Accepted : 2023.05.10
  • Published : 2023.06.01
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the effectiveness and safety of Korean medicine treatment at the Public health center. Methods: The study was conducted among 11 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome who attended a single public health center from January to December 2022. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 11 patients and collected clinical characteristics, previous treatments, Korean medicine treatments, outcome variables (Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Visual Analog Scale (VAS)), adverse events, etc. Results: Of the 11 patients, six were women, and the average age of all patients was 68.27±12.31 years. The most common symptom were cough(n=9, 81.82%) and sore throat(n=9, 81.82%), followed by sputum, fatigue, rhinorrhea, and loss of appetite, etc. All 11 patients were treated with herbal medicine, with Samso-eum(n=6, 54.55%), Yeonkyopaedok-san(n=5, 45.45%), and Haengso-tang(n=3, 27.27%) being the most commonly used. After herbal medicine treatment, the median cough NRS decreased from 5 to 1, and the median sore throat NRS decreased from 4 to 1, both of which were statistically significant. One patient reported adverse event of dyspepsia and heartburn, but it was mild. Conclusions: The study presented the clinical features of the post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and suggested that Korean medicine treatment at public health centers may be effective and safe in alleviating associated symptoms.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

급성기 후 코로나-19 환자의 진료에 많은 도움을 주신 전병태 보건소장님을 비롯한 음성군 보건소 공무원분들과, 대소보건지소 박은숙 팀장님, 안시연 주사님께 진심으로 감사드립니다. 본 논문은 2023년도 한의약혁신기술개발사업(No.HF22C001100)의 지원을 받아 수행되었습니다.

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