Clinical study on long-snake moxibustion plus Western medicine in treating chronic heart failure due to heart-kidney yang deficiency

Abstract

To observe the clinical efficacy of long-snake moxibustion plus Western medicine for chronic heart failure due to heart-kidney yang deficiency. A total of 80 patients were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was treated with routine Western medicine, and the observation group was treated with long-snake moxibustion therapy on the basis of routine Western medicine. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) were measured before and after treatment, and the heart function was assessed. The serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was measured, the 6 min walking distance was recorded, and the Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) was assessed and scored. The serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) and soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (sST2) protein levels were measured. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, LVEF and LVEDd in both groups were significantly improved (all P<0.05), and LVEF, SV and LVEDd in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all P<0.05). The heart function classification in both groups were improved after treatment (both P<0.05), and the heart function classification in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). The serum BNP level in both groups decreased (both P<0.05), and the serum BNP level in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The 6 min walking distance and MLHFQ scores in both groups were improved (all P<0.05), and the 6 min walking distance and MLHFQ score in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (both P<0.05). The serum Gal-3 and sST2 levels in the observation group decreased significantly (both P<0.05), and all lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Long-snake moxibustion plus Western medicine has significant efficacy in treating chronic heart failure due to heart-kidney yang deficiency; it can improve heart function, reduce the serum BNP level, and improve the exercise endurance and quality of life in the patients. This may be related to the down-regulation of serum Gal-3 and sST2 levels.