183732 Variations in use of acupuncture among adults with chronic diseases

Monday, October 27, 2008

Dr. Joy P. Nanda, DSc, MS, MHS, MBA , Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Cynthia Johnson, ND, MS, DrPH(c) , School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Ava Joubert, MD, DrPH(c) , Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Yvonne L. Bronner, ScD , School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Acupuncture(ACP) is an ancient but timeless procedure. However, literature on characteristics and determinants of ACP and its effectiveness on health outcomes is mixed. We used the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) with data on use of 17 CAM modalities, including acupuncture to 1) identify co-morbid conditions associated with acupuncture use, and 2) evaluate ACP use variations among individuals with differing co-morbidities. The NHIS utilized a stratified, multi-level, probability sampling of 31,044 respondents who provided information on life time (LT) and past 12 months (12mo) acupuncture use, selected socio-demographics, health and behavioral (SDHB) characteristics.

LT prevalence of acupuncture use was 4.1%(n=1274), and the 12mo prevalence was 1.1%(n=329). Distribution of six major co-morbidities likely to be associated with acupuncture use was: hypertension(25.9%), arthritis/gout(22.4%), asthma(10.7%), diabetes(8.0%), cancer(7.3%), heart condition(7.1%), and stroke(2.1%).

Compared to ACP use among individuals without a co-morbidity, LT-ACP use was: hypertension:4.4%(NS), arthritis:6.7%(p<0.001), asthma:5.4%(p<0.001), diabetes:4.9% (p<0.05), cancer:6.3%(p<0.001), heart condition:5.6(p<0.001), stroke: 7.0%(p<0.001).

Likewise, past year acupuncture use was: hypertension:0.9%(NS), arthritis:1.2% (NS), asthma: 1.5%(p<0.05), diabetes:1.0%(NS), cancer:1.1%(NS) , heart condition:1.0 (NS), stroke: 1.5%(p<0.05).

Multiple regressions controlling for SDHB factors revealed that the odds of acupuncture use among individuals with each health conditions was significantly greater than those without the health condition (O.R. ranges 1.31 – 2.10, p<0.01 in each model), the greatest odds being among individuals with stroke (O.R. 2.10, 95%CI:1.56;2.82) whereas the lowest odds was among individuals with asthma (O.R. 1.31, 95%CI:1.11;1.55). Implications for evaluating the health outcomes of ACP use in order to reach population subgroups with diverse co-morbidities will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe lifetime and period prevalence of acupuncture use in the U.S. 2. Analyze the relationship between individuals with chronic diseases and their use of acupuncture 3. Evaluate variations in acupuncture use among individuals with diverse co-morbid conditions using multiple regression models

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Chronic Illness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked in Public Health for more than 5 years and currently am a doctor or public health student at Morgan State University
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Use of Alternative and Complementary Health Practices among Specific Populations
See more of: Alternative and Complementary Health Practices