Synergistic immunomodulatory effects of Cistanche deserticola, Schisandra chinensis and Cornus officinalis on elderly patients with recurrent pneumonia: A retrospective clinical controlled trial

Background: Recurrent pneumonia in the elderly can repeatedly damage lung function and reduce quality of life, posing certain challenges to clinical treatment. Objective: To analyze the synergistic immune regulatory effects of Cistanche deserticola, Schisandra chinensis and Cornus officinalis on elderly patients with recurrent pneumonia. Methods: A total of 165 patients with recurrent pneumonia from Chengde Medical University from January 2024 to January 2025 were recruited, 158 were enrolled after exclusions, 8 lost to follow-up, and 150 finally analyzed. The 150 patients were divided into MC group (n=75) and MA group (n=75). Both groups were treated with Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang and Azithromycin, while the MC group was additionally treated with Cistanche deserticola, Schisandra chinensis and Cornus officinalis. The main evaluation includes the Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Score (TCMSS), lung function indicators, inflammation indicators, immune indicator levels and clinical efficacy of two groups. Secondary outcomes include quality of life scores, incidence of complications and adverse reactions. Results: After treatment, the lung function indicators, immune indicators and clinical efficacy in MC group were higher than in the CC group; the TCMSS and inflammatory indicators were lower in the CC group (P0.05). Conclusion: This method has a good immunomodulatory effect on elderly patients with recurrent pneumonia and is worthy of further promotion and application.