Correlation between Mizaj and Frequency of Clinical Signs in Patients with COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes different symptoms. Mizaj or temperament in Persian traditional medicine is a specific feature of every human being. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between Mizaj and severity of symptoms in patients with COVID-19.

A descriptive correlational study was performed in patients with symptomatic COVID-19 during recovery and interviews were carried out to record patients’ symptoms (fever, cough, chills, etc.). Salmannezhad Mizaj questionnaire was used to determine the patients’ temperament (warm, cold, wet, and dry). The number of symptoms in each patient was determined and the severity of symptoms was classified into three levels: mild, moderate, and severe. The relationship between Mizaj and COVID-19 clinical symptoms were assessed by Chi-square and Pearson correlation coefficients.

In this study, 168 patients (48 ± 13.3 years) were cared for between 4 and 30 days in COVID Recovery Center. Fever, dyspnea, and cough were seen in 73.2%. Among the patients, 47.6% had cold Mizaj and 26.2% had warm or moderate Mizaj. The frequency of severe symptoms was higher in patients with cold Mizaj compared with that in patients with warm or moderate Mizaj (P= 0.204). Myalgia was found to be considerably higher in cold-Mizaj patients than warm-Mizaj people (P= 0.006). Significant correlations were seen between wet and dry Mizaj and severity of symptoms (P<0.046,R= 0.554) and warm and cold Mizaj and frequency of symptoms (P< 0.054, R= 0.489).

Patients with COVID-19, who had cold or wet Mizaj had more symptoms, therefore, support, care, and preventive measures of Persian traditional medicine are recommended for people with cold or wet Mizaj exposed to Coronavirus.