Objective

2

To evaluate the improvement of dyspnea， pulmonary function， and quality of life indicators in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis （CWP） in remission treated with qi-invigorating， blood-activating， phlegm-resolving， and collateral-dredging methods.

Methods

2

A total of 80 male patients with CWP in remission， who visited Fangshan Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from October 2020 to September 2022， were selected and randomly divided into an observation group and a control group using a random number table. The observation group received conventional Western medical treatment combined with qi-invigorating， blood-activating， phlegm-resolving， and collateral-dredging granules， 1 dose per day， divided into two oral administrations （morning and evening）. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment combined with a placebo. Both groups received treatment for 4 weeks， followed by an 8-week follow-up. The efficacy of dyspnea relief， pulmonary function indicators ［forced expiratory volume in 1 second （FEV1）， forced vital capacity （FVC）， and FEV1/FVC］， 6-minute walking distance， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores， and safety were compared between the two groups.

Results

2

At the 4th week of treatment， the total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group （

P

<

0.05）. The TCM symptom score in the observation group was lower than that before treatment and that in the control group after treatment （

P

<

0.05）. Compared with the results before treatment， the FVC in the observation group increased （

P

<

0.05）， and at both the 4th week of treatment and the 4th week of follow-up， the 6-minute walking distance was longer （

P

<

0.05）. The 6-minute walking distance in the observation group at the 4th week of treatment was greater than in the control group （

P

<

0.05）. During both the treatment and follow-up periods， no discomfort or adverse events were reported in either group.

Conclusion

2

The combination of qi-invigorating， blood-activating， phlegm-resolving， and collateral-dredging methods with Western medical treatment can reduce the degree of dyspnea in patients with CWP in remission and improve TCM symptom scores， FVC， and the 6-minute walking distance