Complementary and alternative medicine treatments among stroke patients in India.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is commonly used by persons with stroke throughout the world, particularly in Asia.

OBJECTIVE:

The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of CAM use and the factors that predict the use of CAM in stroke patients.

METHODS:

This study was carried out in the stroke units of Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India, from June 2010 to December 2010. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire (≥ 6 months post stroke). Outcomes were assessed using a modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

RESULTS:

Three hundred fourteen stroke patients were interviewed; mean age was 57.4 ± 12.9 years, and 230 (73.2%) patients were men. Of 314 patients, 114 (36.3%) had used the following CAM treatments: ayurvedic massage, 67 (59.3%); intravenous fluids, 22 (19.5%); herbal medicines, 17 (15%); homeopathy, 15 (13.3%); witchcraft, 3 (2.7%); acupuncture, 3 (2.7%); opium intake, 10 (8.8%); and other nonconventional treatments, 10 (8.8%). Patients with severe stroke (P < .0001), limb weakness (P < .0001), dysphagia (P = .02), dyslipidemia (P = .007), hypertension (P = .03), or hemorrhagic stroke (P<.0001) and patients with poor outcome (mRS >2;P < .0001) often used CAM treatments.

CONCLUSION:

More than one-third of the patients in this study opted for CAM. Presence of limb weakness, dysphagia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hemorrhagic stroke, severe stroke, and poor outcome predicted the use of CAM.

• Authors: Jeyaraj Durai Pandian, Gagan Toor, Rajni Arora, Paramdeep Kaur, K V Dheeraj, Ranjeet Singh Bhullar, Padmawati N Sylaja
• Journal: Topics in stroke rehabilitation (Top Stroke Rehabil) 2012 Sep-Oct Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pg. 384-94 ISSN: 1074-9357 [Print] England
• PMID: 22982825 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Opium

Topics

• Acupuncture Therapy (statistics & numerical data)
• Aged
• Analgesics, Opioid (therapeutic use)
• Complementary Therapies (statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Humans
• India
• Male
• Massage (statistics & numerical data)
• Medicine, Ayurvedic
• Middle Aged
• Opium (therapeutic use)
• Patient Satisfaction (statistics & numerical data)
• Prospective Studies
• Stroke (therapy)
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Witchcraft