[Objectives]We investigated the behaviour factors in Hiesho (excessive sensitivity to cold symptoms), a summary score of Health-related QOL (SF-8) and Body Mass Index (BMI) in subjects who feel Hiesho (hereinafter referred to as Hiesho Subjects), in relation to sex, and showed the future direction of acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.
[Methods]After approval by the Ethics Committee, we obtained written informed consent from the participants in this study. Participants were 753students in a vocational college. The study was performed with questionnaires, which were delivered by hand to the participants in September, 2008. We analyzed 629 subjects (538 males and 91 females, mean age of 27.4 ± 6.8) whose responses were valid. The questionnaire consisted of age, sex, height, weight, subjective Hiesho, 24 behaviour patterns of Hiesho according to a previous study, and Health-related QOL (SF-8, Japanese version). We used two summaries -physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) -which are derived from standard values (scores) in the nation on eight scales of SF-8 calculated using the special scoring software. Total scores of behaviour patterns of Hiesho subjects (HIE Scores) and summary scores and BMI in male and female subjects were statistically analyzed using covariance structure analysis technique in multiple populations (Amos Ver. 7).
[Results]In our model, the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and Root Mean Squares Error of Approximation were 1.00, 75.886 and 0.00, respectively, which showed a high degree of compatibility. We found the relations from Hiesho Scores to PCS (β=-0.175, p < 0.01) and MCS (β=-0.179, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.089, p=0.038) in male Hiesho subjects. In contrast, in female Hiesho subjects, there were relations from Hiesho scores to MCS (β=-0.601, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.244, p < 0.05).
[Discussion]From the results of our investigation, Hiesho was considered not to be associated with Health-related QOL in male Hiesho subjects but to be associated with mental factors in female Hiesho subjects.
[Conclusions]It was shown that we should consider the patient's sex in acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.