Clinical features and traditional medicine constitution types in students with palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis: A cross-sectional study at Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Tóm tắt

Background: Hyperhidrosis is a chronic disorder characterized by excessive sweating beyond thermoregulatory requirements, affecting approximately 1–3% of the global population and impairing quality of life. In Vietnam, palmar hyperhidrosis is among the most common forms. Traditional Medicine (TM) emphasizes constitution as a determinant of disease susceptibility, classified into nine types. Identifying constitution patterns associated with hyperhidrosis may provide insights into management strategies. Objective: To describe the clinical features of palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis among students and to determine the distribution of TM constitution types using the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy from January to November 2023. A purposive sample of 180 students with primary palmar/plantar hyperhidrosis was recruited from 580 screened individuals. Hyperhidrosis characteristics were recorded using structured questionnaires, and TM constitution was assessed with the validated Vietnamese version of the CCMQ. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0, applying descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to explore associations. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Results: The mean age of participants was 21.76 ± 2.33 years, with females accounting for 75.6%. Symptom onset occurred mainly in childhood (45%) or after puberty (42.2%). Sweating was most common in both hands and feet (45.6%) and was aggravated by hot weather (77.2%), psychological stress (80%), diet (41.7%), and contact with slippery objects (43.3%). Family history was reported in 19.4%. Among nine constitution categories, the most common were Balanced (26.7%), Qi Stagnation (22.2%), Qi Deficiency (19.4%), and Yang Deficiency (13.3%). Conclusion: Palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis in students was strongly associated with biased TM constitutions, particularly Qi Stagnation, Qi Deficiency, and Yang Deficiency. These findings suggest that targeted TM interventions, including regulating Qi, strengthening the spleen, and warming Yang, may be beneficial. Further multicenter and longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm these associations and guide integrative management approaches.