Effect of Fuzheng series of formulas on the psychological state, dyspnea, and quality of life in convalescent COVID-19 patients - A retrospective observational study

Q: What was the study purpose regarding COVID-19 convalescent patients?

To evaluate the clinical effects of two Traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions on psychological state, dyspnea, and quality of life after COVID-19.

Q: What key outcomes improved during follow-up?

Both groups showed improved psychological well-being, reduced dyspnea severity, and notable improvements in physical and mental health domains of SF-36.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by RuangKosong

Post-infectious symptoms of COVID-19, including persistent dyspnea, psychological disturbances, and reduced quality of life, continue to challenge convalescent patients. A retrospective study assessed two Traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions—Fuzheng Yifei Formula (FZYF) and Fuzheng Anshen Formula (FZAS)—on psychological status, dyspnea severity, and quality-of-life outcomes. Records of 114 convalescent patients were reviewed and assessed at baseline, 7 days, 14 days, and follow-up using GHQ-12, the Modified Borg Scale, and SF-36. Both formulas improved psychological well-being and health-related quality of life, with no significant between-group difference.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study design and participants

Interventions and assessment tools

Outcomes and findings

Funding and disclosures

® Observational Study Effect of Fuzheng series of formulas on the psychological state, dyspnea, and quality of life in convalescent COVID-19 patients A retrospective observational study Lijuan Tang, MMa , Zichen Jie, MMb , Danwen Zheng, MMb , Qiaoli Hua, MMc , Shubin Cai, MMd , Chenghui Li, MMe , Yan Cai, MMf , Lianshun Jin, MMa , Rongyuan Yang, MMa , Zhongde Zhang, MMa ,* | Abstract
Post-infectious symptoms of COVID-19—such as persistent dyspnea, psychological disturbances, and reduced quality of life—continue to pose significant health challenges for convalescent patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used as a complementary therapeutic approach to alleviate post-COVID sequelae. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical effects of 2 TCM prescriptions, Fuzheng Yifei Formula (FZYF) and Fuzheng Anshen Formula (FZAS), on the psychological state, dyspnea, and quality of life among patients recovering from COVID-19 . Medical records of 114 COVID-19 convalescent patients treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the treatment regimen, patients were categorized into 2 groups: FZYF (n = 77) and FZAS (n = 37) . Clinical data were collected at baseline, 7 days, 14 days, and during follow-up. Changes in psychological status, dyspnea severity, and quality-of-life scores were analyzed using validated assessment tools, including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Modified Borg Scale, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) Health Survey. Both FZYF and FZAS were associated with significant improvements in psychological well-being, with mean GHQ-12 scores decreasing from 14.5 at baseline to 9 at follow-up (P < .05) . Dyspnea symptoms improved across both groups, with an average reduction of 3.5 points on the Modified Borg Scale. The SF-36 results indicated notable enhancements in both physical and mental health domains, showing mean improvements of 22% and 23%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 formulas, although FZYF showed slightly superior benefits in respiratory symptom relief. The retrospective analysis suggests that the FZYF may help alleviate long-term respiratory and psychological symptoms among COVID-19 convalescents, thereby potentially improving their overall quality of life. The FZAS, while showing comparable trends of benefit, appeared to exert relatively greater influence on mental and emotional well-being. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution given the non-randomized design and limited sample size, and further validation through large-scale controlled studies is warranted. | | --- | | Abbreviations: COVID-19 = Coronavirus Disease 2019 , FZAS = Fuzheng Anshen Formula, FZYF = Fuzheng Yifei Formula, SF-36 = 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, TCM = Traditional Chinese Medicine. | | Keywords: COVID-19 , dyspnea, Fuzheng Yifei, long COVID, psychological health, quality of life, Traditional Chinese Medicine | This study was supported by Special Project of Guangdong Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital (YN2024MS041), The Second National Famous TCM Doctor Inheritance Office (Guangdong TCM Office Letter [2022] No. 52), Project of Building Inheritance Office for Lingnan Zhen’s Miscellaneous Diseases School (Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine [2013] No. 233), Qihuang Scholars Support Project (National TCM Renjiao Han [2022] No. 6), Special Project of Guangdong Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital (YN2023MS36), and Zhuhai Social Development Field Science and Technology Plan-Key Project (No. 2320004000286). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. a Zhang Zhongde National Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Studio, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzho

FAQs

What was the study purpose regarding COVID-19 convalescent patients?

To evaluate the clinical effects of two Traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions on psychological state, dyspnea, and quality of life after COVID-19.

Which two formulas were compared, and how were patients grouped?

Fuzheng Yifei Formula (FZYF) and Fuzheng Anshen Formula (FZAS) were compared, with patients categorized into two groups based on the treatment regimen.

What key outcomes improved during follow-up?

Both groups showed improved psychological well-being, reduced dyspnea severity, and notable improvements in physical and mental health domains of SF-36.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by RuangKosong