HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
THURSDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM
Yeh GY, Phillips RS.
Complementary and mind-body therapy use in individuals
with cardiovascular disease.
Harvard Medical School Osher Institute gyeh@hms.harvard.edu
PURPOSE: To describe patterns of use of complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM), in particular mind-body (MB) therapies,
among individuals with cardiovascular disease.
METHODS: We used the 2002 National Health Interview
Survey, which includes detailed information on US household adult respondents'
use of 26 different CAM and MB therapies. We analyzed data on 10,572
individuals with self-reported cardiovascular disease (including coronary
artery disease, congestive heart failure, vascular insufficiency, hypertension,
and stroke).
RESULTS: Among those with cardiovascular disease,
36% used a CAM therapy (excluding prayer) in the prior 12 months. This
includes 32% of those with coronary disease, 30% of those with heart
failure, 34% of those with hypertension. MB therapies (including meditation,
yoga, tai chi, qigong, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing
exercises, guided imagery, energy healing, biofeedback, and hypnosis)
were used by 23% of respondents with cardiovascular disease. The most
common conditions for which MB therapies were used included musculoskeletal
complaints (24%), anxiety/depression (23%), and stress/emotional health/wellness
(16%). Fewer respondents (13%) used MB therapies specifically for their
cardiovascular condition (8% for hypertension, 2% for coronary disease,
2% for other vascular insufficiency, 1% for heart failure, and <1% for
stroke). However, 94% of individuals who used MB therapies for their
cardiovascular condition perceived the therapies to be helpful. The
reason most cited for using MB therapies (by 63% of respondents) was
that the combination of CAM with conventional medical treatments might
be helpful. MB therapy use was more common among women, Asians, those
with higher education and higher income, and those who used other CAM
therapies. Use of other CAM therapies in individuals with cardiovascular
disease included herbal products (18%), high-dose vitamins (3%), chiropractic
(8%), and massage (4%). Prevalence rates for CAM use in those with cardiovascular
disease are similar to that of the general population.
CONCLUSIONS: CAM use is common in the US in
individuals with cardiovascular disease. Despite recent interest and
research to support the use of some CAM and MB therapies for cardiac
health, CAM use specifically to treat a cardiovascular condition is
relatively less common. This may represent missed opportunities, particularly
as perceived helpfulness in those who do use for cardiac reasons is
high. Nonetheless, mind-body therapies are commonly used by respondents
with cardiovascular disease for treatment of mental health and stress-management,
which may have related cardiac benefits.
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