A Comparative Review of Clinical Studies on Cold Hypersensitivity in Korea and Japan

Objectives: Cold hypersensitivity is mainly reported among East Asian women, particularly in Korea and Japan. Although both countries employ traditional medicine approaches, differences exist in diagnosis, evaluation methods, and treatments. This study aimed to provide a comparative review of clinical research on cold hypersensitivity (hiesho) in Korea and Japan.Methods: Literature searches were conducted in seven databases: PubMed, CiNii, J-Stage, KoreaMed, OASIS, KISS, and ScienceON. Eligible studies were screened using predefined criteria. Data on study design, participants, interventions, outcome measures, results, and adverse events were extracted and analyzed.Results: Of 17,129 studies identified, 65 met the inclusion criteria. Analysis highlighted similarities and differences in intervention types, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, as well as variations in assessment tools and reported outcomes.Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for standardized research methodologies and collaborative studies between Korea and Japan to improve understanding and clinical management of cold hypersensitivity