Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Swedish patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a controlled study

Abstract

BackgroundThere is an increasing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with chronic diseases, including those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients may turn to CAM when conventional therapies are inadequate or associated with side effects for symptomatic relief or to regain control over their disease. The objectives were to explore CAM use and perceived effects in IBD patients in comparison with a control group.MethodsA cross-sectional, multicenter, controlled study was carried out. IBD patients were invited from 12 IBD clinics in Sweden. Controls were selected randomly from a residence registry. A study-specific questionnaire was used for data collection.ResultsOverall, 48.3% of patients with IBD had used some kind of CAM during the past year compared with 53.5% in controls (P=0.025, adjusted for age, sex, geographic residence, and diet). The most frequently used CAM among IBD patients was massage (21.3%), versus controls (31.4%) (adjusted P=0.0003). The second most used CAM was natural products, 18.7% in IBD patients versus 22.3% of the controls (unadjusted P=0.018). In all, 83.1% of the patients experienced positive effects from CAM and 14.4% experienced negative effects.ConclusionOverall, 48.3% of Swedish IBD patients used some kind of CAM and controls used CAM significantly more. Natural products were used by one-fifth of the patients and even more by controls. This is notable from a patient safety perspective considering the possible risks of interactions with conventional medication. In all, 40% of the patients reported adverse events from conventional medicine. Patients experienced predominantly positive effects from CAM, and so did controls.

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Associated with Reduced Health-Related Quality of Life

“…These results may indicate that patients seek CAM for problems that, from their point of view, cannot be resolved by conventional medicine alone. In a newly published study of Swedish IBD patients, the patients report an effect of CAM use on general health and wellbeing but no improvement in disease symptoms [4]. …”

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among emergency department (ED) patients in Sweden

“…The content of this study’s questionnaire was set to include CAM use, communication concerning CAM use, medical information and general patient demographics. Construction of the questionnaire and its content was done with inspiration from previous international and national studies [ 12 , 20 , 21 ]. A first draft of the questionnaire was assessed for face validity by a postdoctoral researcher in the field of CAM, after which minor adjustments were performed.…”

Cynanchum wilfordii Polysaccharides Suppress Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Acute Colitis in Mice and the Production of Inflammatory Mediators from Macrophages

“…In spite of advances in modern medical science, traditional herbal medicine has continued to be widely used for health maintenance, disease prevention, and even disease treatment in China, Japan, and Korea for thousands of years. Previous studies have shown that 1 out of 2 IBD patients turns to complementary and alternative medicine [7][8][9][10].…”