Type of Multimorbidity and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Adults.

Monira Alwhaibi,Usha Sambamoorthi,Rituparna Bhattacharya

doi:10.1155/2015/362582

Monira Alwhaibi, Usha Sambamoorthi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/362582

Copy DOI

Abstract

Objective. To examine the association between type of multimorbidity and CAM use among adults with multimorbidity. Methods. The current study used a cross-sectional design with retrospective data from 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Multimorbidity was classified into two groups: (1) adults with coexisting physical and mental illnesses and (2) adults with two or more chronic physical illnesses only. CAM use was measured using a set of 18 variables. Logistic regression and multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess the association between the type of multimorbidity and ever used CAM, CAM use in the past 12 months, and type of CAM. Results. Overall, 31.2% of adults with coexisting physical and mental illnesses and 20.1% of adults with only physical illnesses used CAM in the past 12 months. Adults with coexisting physical and mental illnesses were more likely to ever use CAM (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.49, 1.90), use CAM in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.52), and use mind-body therapies in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.16, 1.59) compared to adults with only physical illnesses. Conclusion. Multimorbidity of chronic physical and mental illnesses was associated with higher CAM use.

Highlights

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is highly prevalent among adults with chronic conditions [1,2,3]
Adults with multimorbidity, defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions, had a higher percentage of CAM use as compared to adults with single or no chronic physical conditions (55% versus 44%) [1, 3,4,5]. Those with two or more chronic conditions had a higher percentage (35%) of CAM use compared to adults with single or no chronic conditions (28%); this study did not report type of chronic conditions [3]
In 2002, a cross-sectional study using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found that an estimated 81.7% of older adults with anxiety or depression used CAM in the past 12 months compared to 64.6% of older adults without these mental illnesses [11]

Summary

Introduction

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is highly prevalent among adults with chronic conditions [1,2,3]. Those with two or more chronic conditions had a higher percentage (35%) of CAM use compared to adults with single or no chronic conditions (28%); this study did not report type of chronic conditions (physical versus mental) [3]. In 2002, a cross-sectional study using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found that an estimated 81.7% of older adults with anxiety or depression used CAM in the past 12 months compared to 64.6% of older adults without these mental illnesses [11]. Data from a national household telephone survey found a higher percentage of CAM use among adults with panic disorder (32.0%) and major depression (22.4%) compared to adults without these disorders (13.7%) [13]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion