An Investigation of the Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Stroke Patients in Taiwan

Abstract

Background. The use of complementary and alternative medicine in critical illness is increasing worldwide. This study investigates how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used in stroke patients. Methods. Using Taiwan National Health Insurance reimbursement claims, we compared the annual use of TCM between stroke patients and general population, identifying 15,330 patients with a new onset of stroke in 2000–2009. The sociodemographic status and medical comorbidities between stroke patients receiving TCM services and those without using the service were compared. Results. The use of TCM was higher in stroke patients than in the general population, 27.9% versus 25.4% in 2000 and 32.7% versus 27.8% in 2009, respectively, and grew consistently from 2000 to 2009. Among stroke patients, women, younger patients, white-collar employees, higher-income residents, and those living in areas with more TCM physicians were more likely to use TCM. Stroke patients using rehabilitation services were more likely to have more TCM visits (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.96–2.66) and higher expenditure on TCM (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.29–3.12) compared with stroke patients without rehabilitation. Conclusion. TCM is popular and well accepted in Taiwan. Patients with stroke have a higher TCM utilization rate than people without stroke.

Risk and Mortality of Traumatic Brain Injury in Stroke Patients

“…10,11,17 Several investigations also documented hypertensive diseases, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, mental disorders, liver cirrhosis, pneumonia, and smoking cessation as coexisting medical conditions associated with stroke. 18,20,21,24,25 To reduce the confounding effects, we controlled these TBI-related or stroke-related coexisting medical conditions in the multivariate regressions analysis. After adjustment, we clearly demonstrated increased risk of TBI and subsequent mortality in patients with stroke in both retrospective cohort and nested cohort studies related with medical conditions.…”

“…13,[28][29][30] Third, suicide or self-harm is another cause of TBI for patients with stroke. 31,32 In addition, patients with stroke use multiple medications that may result in reduced bone mineral density or increase the risk of adverse drug effects, drug-drug interactions, 21 electrolyte imbalances, decreased drug clearance rates, and impaired balance. These factors are also considered important contributing factors in falls and subsequent TBI.…”

“…To protect personal privacy, the electronic database was decoded with patient identifications scrambled for further public access for research. 11,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Although informed consent is not required because of decoded and scrambled patient identification, this study was evaluated and approved by Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes.…”

Analysis of the Medical Market Share of Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) in Taiwan Using National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD)

“…Insomnia and depression In 2002∼2010, 37% of patients diagnosed with insomnia used hypnotic drug and herbal medicine in combination 53) In 2003, 42.73% of patients with major and mild depressive disorder who were prescribed antidepressant used TEAM 54) In 64,65) In 2008, The acupuncture utilization rate of stroke patients increased to 17% 66) In 2000, 24% of stroke patients used TEAM, but in 2009, they increased to 32% 67) In 2000∼2010, 77.30% of newly diagnosed ischemic stroke patients used TEAM 68) Atrial fibrillation In 2000∼2011, 15.35% of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients used TEAM within 7 days 69) Heart failure In 2001∼2010, 78.50% of newly diagnosed heart failure patients used TEAM 70) Ischemic heart disease In 2000∼2010, 81.59% of newly diagnosed ischemic heart disease patients used TEAM 71) Diseases of the respiratory system (7.53%)…”

Protective Role of Xinnaoning Tablet in Ischemic Stroke in Rat Model

“…In the past decade, application of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for stroke prevention and recovery has increased drastically (Gong and Sucher, 2002;Junhua et al, 2009;Liao et al, 2012). In China, more than 100 traditional medicines have been used for treating stroke and some of their therapeutic effect have been confirmed by clinical studies (Gong and Sucher, 2002).…”