Application of Multi-index Comprehensive Evaluation Method to TCM Syndrome Classification of Hypertension

OBJECTIVE To obtain the scientific and objective syndrome and syndrome factors for hypertension and to evaluate the importance of corresponding indexes of each syndrome factors. METHODS Overabundant liver-fire syndrome was cited as the example to illustrate the syndrome factors of hypertension and the analysis and evaluation of its indexes. Multi-index comprehensive evaluation method was applied to evaluate the hypertension syndromes obtained under the structural equation model and through expert consultation， with importance of each indexes being analyzed. RESULTS 18 indexes were included in the hypertension of overabundant liver-fire syndrome. Among which， the importance of partial indexes like red tongue， yellow tongue coating， prone to lose temper， bitter sensation in the mouth， dizziness， hemianesthesia experienced changes based on comprehensive evaluation. Two syndrome factors were included in this syndrome. It was proved that the majority of index importance through comprehensive evaluation was almost the same as the previous study results， except for some small index changes like red tongue and wary pulse. CONCLUSION Multi-index comprehensive evaluation method can be used to analyze the statistical results of both clinical epidemiological investigation and expert experience， which not only avoids the disadvantages of pure statistical estimation， but also solves the problem of subjective bias induced by expert experience.