Background and aim

A better understanding of irreversible prognoses in palliative care is crucial for improving patients’ quality of life and their sense of dignity. We examined whether measurements of meridian electrical conductance can noninvasively and objectively predict survival time in a hospice patient population.

Experimental procedure

This was a single-center cohort study. Between 2019 and 2020, we measured skin conductance from 24 representative acupoints of 12 meridians on both sides of the body in 181 advanced cancer patients within 48 h of hospitalization and monitored their survival time. The Palliative Prognostic Score (PaP Score) was calculated for each patient, classifying them into one of three prognosis groups: Group A, B, or C. Factors associated with short-term and long-term survival were identified using multivariate regression analysis. Statistical differences in survival times were analyzed between the meridian electrical conductance measurements and PaP Scores.

Results and conclusion

Analyses of the clinicopathological data from terminal cancer patients revealed that male sex, mean meridian electrical conductance measurements of ≤8.8 μA, and PaP Scores in Group C were independent predictors of short-term survival. Mean meridian electrical conductance measurements of ≤8.8 μA demonstrated good sensitivity (85.1%) and adequate specificity (60.6%) for short-term survival. A survival curve analysis revealed a mortality rate of 90.6% at 30 days among patients with meridian electrical conductance measurements of ≤8.8 μA. A mean meridian electrical conductance measurement of ≤8.8 μA can objectively assess short-term survival with advanced cancer and reduce nonbeneficial medical treatment.

中文翻译：

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经络能量分析可以预测接受姑息治疗的晚期癌症患者的预后

背景和目的

更好地了解姑息治疗中的不可逆转预后对于改善患者的生活质量和尊严感至关重要。我们研究了经络电导的测量是否可以无创且客观地预测临终关怀患者群体的生存时间。

实验流程

这是一项单中心队列研究。2019年至2020年间，我们测量了181名晚期癌症患者住院48小时内身体两侧12条经络的24个代表性穴位的皮肤电导率，并监测他们的生存时间。计算每位患者的姑息性预后评分 (PaP 评分)，将其分为三个预后组之一：A、B 或 C 组。使用多元回归分析确定与短期和长期生存相关的因素。分析经络电导测量值和 PaP 评分之间生存时间的统计差异。

结果与结论

对晚期癌症患者临床病理数据的分析显示，C 组中男性、平均经络电导测量值≤8.8 μA 和 PaP 评分是短期生存的独立预测因素。平均经络电导测量值≤8.8 μA，表明短期生存具有良好的敏感性（85.1%）和足够的特异性（60.6%）。生存曲线分析显示，经络电导测量值≤8.8 μA的患者30天死亡率为90.6%。平均经络电导测量值≤8.8 μA可以客观评估晚期癌症的短期生存率并减少无益的医疗治疗。