title: Sasang constitution affects the prevalence of functional dyspepsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional dyspepsia (FD), which is a very common disorder worldwide, is known to be caused by multiple factors including environmental and genetic factors. Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) is a component of traditional Korean medicine that emphasizes inherited characteristics of the physical and psychological patterns of a patient. This study investigated whether the prevalence of FD differs depending on Sasang classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 517 subjects (190 males and 327 females) were recruited, and interviewed for the presence of FD using a Rome III-based questionnaire. The Sasang constitution of all subjects were diagnosed using a Sasang constitutional analytical tool (SCAT). A Chi-square test was performed to compare prevalence of DF among different Sasang constitutional types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 517 subjects, 115 (22.2 %) met the diagnostic criteria for FD, and the prevalence was significantly higher in females (26.9 %) than males (14.2 %, p < 0.01). The Sasang-constitution-based prevalence among all subjects was 27.5 % for Taeumin, 23.1 % for Soumin, and 16.4 % for Soyangin (p = 0.055). When compared by sex, the prevalence of FD among Sasang types showed significantly different patterns between males and females (p < 0.05); in females with FD, Taeumin predominated (32.5 % compared with 29.5 % and 18.8 % for Soumin and Soyangin, respectively; p < 0.05), whereas males with FD displayed a higher prevalence of Soumin (17.3 % compared with 9.1 % and 11.3 % for Taeumin and Soyangin, respectively; p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified significant differences in FD prevalence depending on Sasang constitution and sex. Our findings provide data to guide future research on the prevention and management of FD.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, # 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon, 302-724, Republic of Korea. kyj86314@naver.com.
authors.forename: Yoon Jeong
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service Management, Daejeon University, # 62 Daehak-ro Dong-gu, Daejeon, 300-716, Republic of Korea. ycahn@dju.kr.
authors.forename: Yo Chan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, # 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon, 302-724, Republic of Korea. ckson@dju.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chang Gue
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001824:Body Constitution; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult