Combined traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment of lung heat in the elderly due to wind-warmth(pattern of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung)

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of combined traditional Chinese and western medicine in treating lung heat in the elderly due to wind-warmth(pattern of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung).Methods Form October 2011 to October 2013,80 senile patients meeting the inclusion criteria of lung heat due to wind-warmth(pattern of phlegm-heat obstructing lung)were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,each containing 40 patients.Oxygen inhalation therapy and monitoring vital signs were given to all patients as well as symptomatic treatment,such as antitussive,antiexpectorant,antispasmodic and anti-asthmatic management.Beta-lactam antibiotics were empirically used with macrolides antibiotics,meanwhile sputum bacterial culture was conducted for two consecutive times.If the patient had a temperature over 39.0℃,blood should be collected for bacterial culture.Sensitive antibiotics were adjusted according to the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing.Oral compound Qingjin Huatan decoction was given to treatment group in addition,one dose daily.Both groups were treated for 10 days,and then were compared for clinical efficacy,scores of TCM symptoms,hospital stay and average daily cost.Results The total effective rate was 95.0% in treatment group and 80.0% in control group,the difference in two groups was statistically significant(χ2=4.114,P0.05). After treatment,scores of cough,sputum volume,sputum consistency,tongue,tongue coating,pulse were(1.32±0.21),(0.45±0.21),(1.63±0.35),(1.51±0.24),(0.19±0.15),and(0.20±0.16)respectively in treatment group,which were significantly different from those in control group[(1.44±0.27),(0.58±0.30),(1.81±0.39),(1.65±0.26),(0.27±0.17),(0.29±0.18)](t=2.219,2.245,2.172,2.502, 2.232,2.364,P0.05).The average length of hospital stay and average daily cost of hospital stay were(11.8±4.6)d and(626.3±23.4)yuan /d respectively in treatment group,which were significantly different from those in control group [(14.3±5.5)d,(711.8±35.6)yuan/d](t=2.205,12.693,P0.05).Conclusion Combined traditional Chinese and western medicine for lung heat in the elderly due to wind-warmth(pattern of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung) is of potent efficacy and has obvious advantages in improving symptoms,promoting recovery,reducing medical costs and hospital stay,which is worth of further clinical application.