Effect of Fuzheng series of formulas on the psychological state, dyspnea, and quality of life in convalescent COVID-19 patients: A retrospective observational study

Post-infectious symptoms of COVID-19-such as persistent dyspnea, psychological disturbances, and reduced quality of life-continue to pose significant health challenges for convalescent patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used as a complementary therapeutic approach to alleviate post-COVID sequelae. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical effects of 2 TCM prescriptions, Fuzheng Yifei Formula (FZYF) and Fuzheng Anshen Formula (FZAS), on the psychological state, dyspnea, and quality of life among patients recovering from COVID-19. Medical records of 114 COVID-19 convalescent patients treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the treatment regimen, patients were categorized into 2 groups: FZYF (n = 77) and FZAS (n = 37). Clinical data were collected at baseline, 7 days, 14 days, and during follow-up. Changes in psychological status, dyspnea severity, and quality-of-life scores were analyzed using validated assessment tools, including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Modified Borg Scale, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) Health Survey. Both FZYF and FZAS were associated with significant improvements in psychological well-being, with mean GHQ-12 scores decreasing from 14.5 at baseline to 9 at follow-up (P < .05). Dyspnea symptoms improved across both groups, with an average reduction of 3.5 points on the Modified Borg Scale. The SF-36 results indicated notable enhancements in both physical and mental health domains, showing mean improvements of 22% and 23%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 formulas, although FZYF showed slightly superior benefits in respiratory symptom relief. The retrospective analysis suggests that the FZYF may help alleviate long-term respiratory and psychological symptoms among COVID-19 convalescents, thereby potentially improving their overall quality of life. The FZAS, while showing comparable trends of benefit, appeared to exert relatively greater influence on mental and emotional well-being. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution given the non-randomized design and limited sample size, and further validation through large-scale controlled studies is warranted.