Severity of Yin Deficiency Syndrome and Autonomic Nervous System Function in Cancer Patients

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the distribution of symptoms related to Yin deficiency syndrome (YDS), and to analyze the relationship between the severity of YDS and the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in cancer patients. Setting: Outpatient clinic in a teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Subjects: Eighty (80) patients had been diagnosed with cancer by pathologic and clinical findings. Method: The severity of YDS in each subject was evaluated by a questionnaire consisting of 12 items concerning symptoms and signs related to YDS, scored from 1 to 4 points. Outcome measures: The total score for all 12 items represented the severity of YDS. ANS function in each subject was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), including time-frequency analysis. We coded the collected questionnaire material and performed statistical analysis (description analysis, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients) using SPSS v.12.0 software. Results: The highest total YDS score was 36 points and th...