The Preventive Effectiveness of the Individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag on the Common Cold in Elderly With Qi-deficiency Constitution (CCJWBT): A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Hong Kong Baptist University304 enrolled

Overview

Objectives Based on the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag intake after randomization, to evaluate the relationship of the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag intake and the improvement of Qi-deficiency Constitution on the common cold-associated outcomes. Specific Aims 1: To compare the incidence and recurrence of the common cold by the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag intake strategies (intake 3-month individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag vs. no intake throughout the same trial period) in the HK Qi-deficiency Constitution elderly. Specific Aims 2: To determine the immunological index(es) and function changes by the intake strategies (intake 3-month individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag vs. no intake throughout the same trial period) on the common cold among HK Qi-deficiency Constitution elderly. Specific Aims 3: To assess the change in the reductive ratio of the total scores of the Clinical Features of the Qi-deficiency Constitution Questionnaire by the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag intake strategies (intake 3-month individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag vs. no intake throughout the same trial period) in the HK Qi-deficiency Constitution elderly.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

304

Conditions

Preventive Effectiveness Elderly With Qi-deficiency Constitution

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged 65 years old or above, 2. HK residents capable of consenting and have agreed to participate, 3. Meet the assessment criteria of Qi-deficiency Constitution in TCMECQ-C at screening, 4. The number of the incidence of the common cold ≥ 1 times/year, 5. Able to intake the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag and complete the trial-related records/questionnaires and also withdraw blood. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Not fulfilling the above inclusion criteria, 2. Not assessed to be Qi-deficiency Constitution, 3. Having serious mental and behavioral disorders that are unable to intake the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag, complete the trial-related records/questionnaires and withdraw blood, 4. Having neurological disorders such as dementia etc. that are unable to intake the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag and complete the trial-related records/questionnaires and withdraw blood, 5. Having serious diseases with undesirable conditions that are unable to intake the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag and complete the trial-related records/questionnaires and withdraw blood, 6. Other conditions that are unable to intake the individualized Jade Wind-Barrier Herbal Tea Bag and complete the trial-related records/questionnaires and withdraw blood, 7. Allergic to Chinese Herbal Medicine (Astragali Radix (Zhi Huangqi), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (Baizhu), Nelumbinis Folium (Heye), Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat (Juhua)), 8. Taking Chinese Herbal Medicine or drugs to manage their health problems within two weeks and cannot stop the treatment during the study, 9. Have an abnormal liver and renal function analyzed results after randomization at screening.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in the incidence rate of the common cold from baseline (week 0) to the end of the intervention (week 13).

Comparing Q14 incidence frequency of the common cold in the TCM Body Constitution Questionnaire (For Elderly People) (Cantonese version) (TCMECQ-C) with Q4 incidence days (convert to incidence frequency) of the common cold in the Incidence of Common Cold Record (if participants catch cold).

Time frame: Around 30 minutes is needed to fill in both TCM Body Constitution Questionnaire (For Elderly People) (Cantonese version) (TCMECQ-C) and the Incidence of Common Cold Record (if participants catch cold).

Change in the reductive ratio of the total score of CFQCQ among the HK Qi- deficiency Constitution elderly from baseline (week 0) to the end of intervention (week 13).

Comparing the difference between the baseline score of the Clinical Features of the Qi-deficiency Constitution Questionnaire (CFQCQ) and the after intervention score of the CFQCQ.

Time frame: Around 30 minutes is needed to fill in both the baseline and after intervention CFQCQ.

Secondary Outcomes

Changes in the persistence time of incident common cold among the HK Qi-deficiency Constitution elderly from baseline (week 0) to the end of intervention (week 13).

Comparing the difference between 1st month with the 3rd month on Q4 number of incidence days of the common cold (persistence time of incident common cold) in the Incidence of Common Cold Record (if participants catch cold).

Time frame: Around 30 minutes is needed to fill in both the baseline and after intervention Incidence of Common Cold Record (if participants catch cold).

Change in intervention index of the total score of TCMSSM among the HK Qi-deficiency Constitution elderly (if catch cold) from baseline (week 0) to the end of intervention (week 13).

Comparing the difference between the baseline and after intervention's intervention index of the total score of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Scoring Method Questionnaire (TCMSSMQ).

Time frame: Around 30 minutes is needed to fill in both the baseline and after intervention TCMSSM.

Changes in the ranges of immune markers (Ig G, Ig A and Ig M) function analysis from baseline (week 0) to the end of intervention (week 13).

Comparing the difference between the ranges of immune markers (IgG, IgA and IgM) function analysis from baseline (week 0) to the end of intervention (week 13).

Time frame: Around one month respectively to complete the baseline and after trial blood withdrawal. Another one month for the corresponding ELISA test on IgG, IgA and IgM.