TY - JOUR
T1 - Frequencies and prescription patterns of traditional Chinese medicine use among elderly patients in Taiwan
T2 - A population-based study
AU - Yang, Pei Rung
AU - Liang, Hwey Fang
AU - Chu, Yen Hua
AU - Chen, Pau Chung
AU - Lin, Yin Yin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
PY - 2015/5/17
Y1 - 2015/5/17
N2 - Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), one of the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicines, has been receiving increasing attention among elderly patients. However, epidemiological reports and prescription patterns of geriatric TCM users are few. The aim of this study is to use data from a nationwide cohort database to analyze TCM use by the geriatric population in Taiwan from 2005 to 2009. Materials and methods: TCM outpatient claims data was obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Data for elderly patients aged 65 years and older were included in the analysis during the study period. The demographic data, disease distributions, and frequencies and prescription patterns of TCM use by the geriatric population were analyzed. Results: The geriatric cohort included 97,210 patients, in which 46,883 patients (48%) had used TCM at least once, with a total of 723,478 TCM outpatient visits. Of these, 175,857 visits (24.3%) were prompted by "diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue"; more than half of patients with such diseases were treated using acupuncture and traumatology manipulative therapies. Overall, among the 552,835 visits during which Chinese herbal products (CHP) were prescribed, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xie-Tang and Dan Shen (Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae) were the most frequently prescribed herbal formula and single herb, respectively, for elderly patients. In addition, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xie-Tang was also the most prescribed herbal formula for the most common disease categories of "diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" among TCM elderly patients, followed by Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-Tang, and Shao-Yao-Gan-Cao-Tang. Conclusion: This study elucidated the TCM utilization patterns of the geriatric population. However, additional studies are warranted to determine the safety and efficacy of these CHPs for use by elderly patients in further clinical trials.
AB - Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), one of the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicines, has been receiving increasing attention among elderly patients. However, epidemiological reports and prescription patterns of geriatric TCM users are few. The aim of this study is to use data from a nationwide cohort database to analyze TCM use by the geriatric population in Taiwan from 2005 to 2009. Materials and methods: TCM outpatient claims data was obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Data for elderly patients aged 65 years and older were included in the analysis during the study period. The demographic data, disease distributions, and frequencies and prescription patterns of TCM use by the geriatric population were analyzed. Results: The geriatric cohort included 97,210 patients, in which 46,883 patients (48%) had used TCM at least once, with a total of 723,478 TCM outpatient visits. Of these, 175,857 visits (24.3%) were prompted by "diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue"; more than half of patients with such diseases were treated using acupuncture and traumatology manipulative therapies. Overall, among the 552,835 visits during which Chinese herbal products (CHP) were prescribed, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xie-Tang and Dan Shen (Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae) were the most frequently prescribed herbal formula and single herb, respectively, for elderly patients. In addition, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xie-Tang was also the most prescribed herbal formula for the most common disease categories of "diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" among TCM elderly patients, followed by Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-Tang, and Shao-Yao-Gan-Cao-Tang. Conclusion: This study elucidated the TCM utilization patterns of the geriatric population. However, additional studies are warranted to determine the safety and efficacy of these CHPs for use by elderly patients in further clinical trials.
KW - National Health Insurance Research Database
KW - Traditional Chinese medicine
KW - elderly
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929335806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jep.2015.04.046
DO - 10.1016/j.jep.2015.04.046
M3 - 文章
C2 - 25952167
AN - SCOPUS:84929335806
SN - 0378-8741
VL - 169
SP - 328
EP - 334
JO - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
JF - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
ER -