OBJECTIVETo study Chinese medicine syndrome features in sub-health insomnia patients, and to make clear the symptom compositions of each syndrome, thus providing references for main and minor symptoms selection, and establishing a syndrome differentiation system in clinical testing.

METHODSChinese medicine syndrome information was collected by multi-centered large-sample clinical data. The information was statistically managed to get common syndrome types, symptoms compositions, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores of sub-health insomnia patients.

RESULTSThe most common symptoms of sub-health insomnia patients of yin deficiency fire hyperactivity syndrome and Xin-Pi deficiency syndrome cover difficulties in falling asleep, early awakening, dreaminess, sometimes sleeping sometimes awake, failing in falling into sleep when wake up, failing in sleep all night. There was insignificant difference between the two syndrome types (P>0.05). Some unique symptoms occurred in the two syndrome types as minor symptoms. Fatigue, abdominal distension after eating occurred in patients of Xin-Pi deficiency syndrome. Burning sensation of five centers, irritability, etc. occurred in patients of yin deficiency fire hyperactivity syndrome. Significant difference was shown in minor symptoms (except irritability, vexation, frequent urine) (P<0.05, P<0.01). No significant difference was shown in PSQI score between the two syndrome types (P>0.05). But significant difference was shown in sleep disturbance factors (P<0.05). Patients of yin deficiency fire hyperactivity syndrome had severe sleep disturbance factors.

CONCLUSIONThere was no significant difference in main symptoms between the two syndrome types. Some unique symptoms occurred in the two syndrome types as minor symptoms. There was difference in sleep quality compositions.