OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between propagated sensation along meridian (PSM) and TCM constitution at different age stages.

METHODSAccording to age, 840 participants were divided into a youth group (326 cases), a middle aged group (243 cases) and an elderly group (271 cases). The TCM constitution of all the participants was evaluated, and the PSM test was performed. The distribution of TCM constitution, the occurring rate and transmission of PSM in each group were observed and compared; the correlation between PSM and the TCM constitution was preliminary investigated by Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe distribution of nine types of TCM constitution in three groups:the proportion of normal constitution and partial constitution were significantly different (all<0.05); the occurring rate and transmission of PSM in three groups were not significantly different (all>0.05); the proportion of occurring rate for nine types of TCM constitutions in the whole population, from high to low, presented special intrinsic quality, neutral quality,-deficiency quality,-deficiency quality,-deficiency quality, damp-heat quality, phlegm-dampness quality,-stagnation quality and blood-stasis quality; besides, the proportion of occurring rate for different TCM constitutions in the youth group, middle aged group and elderly group was similar to that of whole population. The Logistic regression analysis results indicated the neutral quality (=0.025) and special intrinsic quality (=0.018) were positively while blood-stasis quality (=0.043) was negatively related with PSM in all subjects; the-deficiency quality (=0.025), phlegm-dampness quality (=0.019), blood-stasis quality (=0.012) and-stagnation quality (=0.035) were negatively related with PSM in youth group; the neutral quality (=0.001) was positively related with PSM inthe middle aged group; the neutral quality (=0.006) anddeficiency quality (=0.004) were positively related with PSM in the elderly group.

CONCLUSIONSThe occurrence of PSM in different age stages is related with TCM constitution, which could be increased in clinical treatment to improve acupuncture efficacy.