Abstract | BACKGROUND & AIMS: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can interact with antiviral treatment or influence health-seeking behaviour. We aimed to study the use of individual CAM modalities in CHB and explore determinants of use, particularly migration-related, socio-economic and clinical factors. METHODS: A total of 436 CHB outpatients who attended the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease in 2015-2016 were included in this cross-sectional study. Using the comprehensive I-CAM questionnaire and health records, data were collected on socio-demographic and clinical variables and on usage of 16 CAM modalities in the last year. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients were male, 74% were Asian and 46% were using antiviral treatment. Three-hundred and nine (71%) patients used CAM. Vitamin/ mineral preparations (45% of patients) were most commonly used. Overall CAM use and the specific use of potentially injurious CAM, such as green tea extract (9.2%) and St. John's wort (0.2%), were not associated with liver disease severity. Female sex, family history of CHB, lower serum HBV DNA, and higher socio-economic status were independently associated with bio-holistic CAM use, the clinically most-relevant CAM group (P < 0.05); ethnicity, antiviral therapy use and liver disease severity were not. CONCLUSIONS: CAM use among CHB patients was extensive, especially use of vitamin and mineral preparations, but without direct influence on liver disease severity. Bio-holistic CAM use appeared to be associated with socio-economic status rather than with ethnicity or liver disease severity. Despite the rare use of hepatotoxins, physicians should actively inquire about it.
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Authors | Kin Seng Liem, Colina Yim, Thomas D Ying, Wayel R Zanjir, Scott Fung, David K Wong, Hemant Shah, Jordan J Feld, Bettina E Hansen, Harry L A Janssen |
Journal | Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
(Liver Int)
Vol. 39
Issue 8
Pg. 1418-1427
(08 2019)
ISSN: 1478-3231 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 30912219
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2019 The Authors. Liver International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Complementary Therapies
(psychology, statistics & numerical data)
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Hepatitis B, Chronic
(therapy)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Sociological Factors
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