Warning indicators of COVID-19 severity: a retrospective observational study integrating modern biomarkers and traditional tongue features
ObjectiveThis study aims to identify early warning indicators of COVID-19 severity by integrating modern medical biomarkers with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tongue features.MethodsA retrospective observational study was conducted on 409 hospitalized COVID-19 patients from two centers in China...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1500605/full |
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| Summary: | ObjectiveThis study aims to identify early warning indicators of COVID-19 severity by integrating modern medical biomarkers with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tongue features.MethodsA retrospective observational study was conducted on 409 hospitalized COVID-19 patients from two centers in China. Patients were stratified into severe (n = 50) and non-severe (n = 359) groups based on the 10th edition of China’s diagnostic guidelines. Data included demographics, clinical symptoms, tongue characteristics, and laboratory parameters. Univariate analyses (chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests) and stepwise logistic regression were performed to identify key predictors.ResultsAge (p < 0.001), fever (p < 0.001), elevated procalcitonin (PCT, p < 0.001), thick tongue fur (p = 0.003), and fat tongue shape (p = 0.002) were significant predictors of severity. The combined model integrating these factors demonstrated superior predictive performance (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.741).ConclusionIntegrating TCM tongue features (thick fur and fat shape) with clinical biomarkers (age, fever, and PCT) enhances early identification of severe COVID-19, particularly in resource-limited settings. |
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| ISSN: | 2296-858X |