Objective facial color characteristics of patients with coronary heart disease

To explore the objective facial color characteristics of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

From August 2023 to June 2024, patients with CHD who were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, were enrolled as the CHD group (n = 147). Healthy individuals recruited during the same period served as the non-CHD control group (n = 147). Facial images of both groups were collected using the M3 Intelligent Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnostic System under standardized conditions. The facial region was divided into seven subregions: the entire face, forehead, bilateral cheeks, infraorbital regions, nose, lips, and chin. For each subregion, nine color parameters from three color spaces were extracted and analyzed, including red (R), green (G), blue (B), hue (H), saturation (S), value (V), lightness (L), red-green axis (a), and yellow-blue axis (b).

Compared with the non-CHD group, the CHD group showed decreased R, G, and L values and increased a and b values in overall facial color (P<0. 05). Local facial color analysis revealed that, in the CHD group, the forehead exhibited decreased R, G, B, V, and L values and increased S and a values (P<0. 05); the cheeks showed decreased R, G, and L values and increased S, a, and b values (P<0. 05); the infraorbital regions showed decreased R, G, and L values but increased S and a values (P<0. 05); the nose exhibited decreased R, G, B, V, and L values and increased S and a values (P<0. 05); and the lips showed increased S and a values (P<0. 05).

Compared with healthy individuals, patients with CHD exhibited an overall darker and less bright facial complexion with significantly increased red saturation. Local features such as a dull forehead, reddish cheeks, and a discolored nose align with the traditional Chinese medicine pathogenesis of qi-blood deficiency and blood stasis with internal heat.