Abstract
BackgroundComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is commonly used in China for the management of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the prevalence, perceived effectiveness, types, and reasons of CAM use in patients diagnosed with CAD.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was adopted. Questionnaires were distributed at the outpatient cardiac clinics of four tertiary-level teaching general hospitals in Beijing. Quantitative data were analyzed using Student’s t-test. Categorical data were analyzed using chi-square test. Logistic regression was employed to explore factors associated with the use of CAM as well as CAM use features in Chinese medicine (CM) hospitals when significant differences were found upon comparisons.ResultsFrom May to July, 2009, a total of 600 questionnaires were distributed, and 546 patients with a diagnosis of CAD responded with valid values and were included in the present study. CAM was used by 69.1% of the patients with CAD; the majority (75.9%) of these CAM users believes that CAM is effective. “Few side effects” (49.6%) was the main reason of CAM use; whereas “doubt of effect” (61.5%) was the main reason for non-use. Patent herbal medicine (90.7%) was the most commonly used CAM type. Compared with non-CAM users, CAM users tended to be older (p < 0.01), have a longer disease duration (p = 0.02) and better current health status. In addition, CAM users had significant lower odds for emergency admission and hospitalization within the past one year. Patients with CAD from CM and WM hospitals differ in CAM use frequency, types, perceived effectiveness, as well as reasons for CAM use or non-CAM use.ConclusionThe present study suggested a group of significant factors which could influence the use of CAM in patients with CAD. CAM use patterns differ in patients from CM and WM hospitals.
Highlights
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is commonly used in China for the management of coronary artery disease (CAD)
The aims of the present study were to: (1) determine the prevalence, perceived effectiveness, types, and reasons of CAM use in patients diagnosed with CAD in Beijing; (2) investigate the possible differences between CAM users and non-CAM users; (3) explore possible different CAM use features between Chinese medicine (CM) and western medicine (WM) hospitals
Demographic characteristics of the patients From May to July, 2009, a total of 600 questionnaires were distributed at the outpatient cardiac clinics of the four hospitals, and 546 patients with a diagnosis of CAD responded with valid values and were included in the present study
Summary
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is commonly used in China for the management of coronary artery disease (CAD). Decker et al [18] reported that 19% patients with acute coronary syndrome used CAM, and higher proportions of patients who used CAM were non-Caucasian, uninsured, economically burdened, and had depression. Grant et al [20] summarized 27 studies regarding CAM use by patients with cardiovascular disease and found that CAM use in cardiac patients ranged from 4% 61% with biologically-based therapies usage ranging from 22% to 68% and herbal medicines ranging between 2% and 46%. The heterogeneity of the results in those studies indicates that CAM use in patients varies in different countries, cities, ethnicities, specific CAM modalities, and patients’ economic status
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have