Objective To discuss the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) commonly seen in clinic based on data mining technology.Methods A multicenter study was conducted. 1 451 in-patients with CHF in 4 grade Ⅲ hospitals from December 2010 to September 2012 were enrolled. The cluster and factor methods were applied to synthetically analyze the data concerning the patients' information of four diagnostic methods in TCM, and the TCM syndromes commonly seen in patients with CHF and the preliminary diagnostic scheme were summarized.Results In these 1 451 cases, there were 43 items having been experienced standardization, including clinical symptoms and manifestations of tongue and pulse, and in the information concerning four diagnosis in TCM, there were 14 items whose incidences > 10%. The incidence of chest distress was the highest 89.18% (1 294 cases), followed by shortness of breath 66.16% (960 cases), and the lowest constipation 12.20% (177 cases). There were 4 commonly seen syndromes of CHF as follows: qi deficiency blood stasis syndrome (the major diagnostic bases: palpitation, shortness of breath, dark and red tongue with white fur, thin pulse; and the minor bases: chest distress and thin fur), yang deficiency water diffusion syndrome (major bases: edema of lower limbs, cough, expectoration, difficult urination, chilly, poor appetite, greasy fur, string pulse; minor bases: body strength weakness), phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome (major bases: chest pain, cough and dyspnea in semi-reclining position, constipation, light tongue with yellow fur, deep, slippery or rapid pulse; minor bases: dizziness), and qi yin deficiency blood stasis syndrome (major bases: dry mouth, night sweating, frequent urination at night, teeth-marked tongue, purplish tongue, uneven or irregular pulse; minor bases: loose stool, headache, purplish lips, swollen tongue with little fur, moderate or weak pulse). The load intervals of each of the symptoms in CHF qi deficiency blood stasis syndrome were from -0.520 to 0.881, all the absolute values were greater than 0.520, and the common degrees extracted were 64.3% - 83.6%, which meant the 5 common factors could extract the original index information all over the common degree 64.3%. In yang deficiency water diffusion syndrome, the load intervals of each of symptoms were from0.732 to 0.983, all the absolute values were greater than 0.732, and the common degrees extracted were 58.2% - 96.9%; in phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome, the load intervals of each of symptoms were 0.670 - 0.992, the all absolute values were greater than 0.670, and the common degrees extracted were 52.0% - 98.5%. In qi yin deficiency blood stasis syndrome, the load intervals of each of symptoms were 0.576 - 0.926, all the absolute values were greater than 0.576, and the common degrees extracted were 54.2% - 87.1%.Conclusion By application of data mining technology combined with clinical practice, the common TCM syndromes of patients with CHF can be analyzed objectively and comprehensively.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by its gradual progression. At present, the cause and mechanism of AD are yet unclear, and there is no effective therapy for treating it. With development of global aging, the prevalence rate of AD is increasing. The life quality of elderly people is affected severely by AD that is ultimately life-threatening. Recently, study on treating AD with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has deepened.