Traditional Chinese formulas reduce hospitalization for infection among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Taiwan

Abstract

IntroductionSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with many associated comorbidities. Disease activity and the long-term use of steroids or immunosuppressants are related to infection in SLE. Thus, identifying a safe complementary medicine, which can reduce inflammation and symptoms and can be used in conjunction with conventional SLE drugs, is necessary. MethodsThis study was designed to determine whether traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas are associated with the infectious hospitalization rate of patients with SLE. A population-based retrospective cohort study covering 23,084 patients that were diagnosed with SLE from 1999 to 2009 was conducted. ResultsA total of 2638 incident cases of hospitalization among patients with SLE were due to infectious diseases. TCM users were significantly associated with a decreased risk of hospitalization for infectious diseases (hazard ratios = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.78–0.92). Other risk factors that were associated with increased risks of infectious hospitalization were old age, gender (male), hospitalization due to infectious diseases 1 year prior to diagnosis, low amount of insurance, comorbidities, and use of steroids and immunosuppressive agents. ConclusionThis study showed that TCM formulas were significantly associated with a decreased risk of infectious hospitalization among patients with SLE. TCM formulas may be used as a part of SLE treatments to decrease infectious hospitalization in SLE in the future. Health promotion programs can be planned in accordance with the risk factors associated with the increased risk of infectious hospitalization of SLE in response to disease burden and cost.