3.2.1. Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnostic Criteria of Western Medicine. Modern medical diagnostic criteria are based on the consensus of domestic experts [5] and combined with the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of adult bronchiectasis published by the European Respiratory Society in 2017 [20]. All patients require a definitive diagnosis of bronchiectasis on high-resolution CT. And they should be in the stable stage of bronchiectasis, with stable symptoms such as cough and expectoration.

Diagnostic Criteria of TCM Syndrome. The diagnostic criteria of TCM syndrome are based on the “Criteria of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect of TCM Diseases” issued by the State Administration of TCM [21] and integrated with the TCM differentiation of bronchiectasis summarized from the literature [22], mainly including lung and spleen deficiency syndrome, qi and yin deficiency syndrome, and phlegm-heat obstructing lung syndrome (including mild phlegm-heat syndrome).

Patients who can be diagnosed with TCM syndrome should have corresponding two primary symptoms or more than two accompanied symptoms with the corresponding tongue and pulse signs.

Clinically, the TCM syndrome differentiation of stable bronchiectasis is mostly a deficiency and excess, mainly of a certain syndrome. Each type of syndrome differentiation of TCM is mixed with a certain degree of phlegm and heat. For example, qi and yin deficiency intermingled with phlegm and heat syndrome or lung and spleen deficiency with phlegm and heat syndrome [9], it is necessary to estimate the severity of intermingled phlegm and heat according to the clinician's experienced syndrome differentiation. In order to ensure the accuracy and high quality of treatment based on syndrome differentiation of TCM, the TCM syndrome of each subject will be discriminated and concluded by two chief physicians. If necessary, it will be decided by a third party (an outstanding veteran doctor of TCM).