Use of nonprescription medications by patients with congestive heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
To define the utilization pattern of nonprescription therapies in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and to compare this pattern with that of an age- and gender-matched control group without any self-reported heart conditions.


METHODS
Survey questionnaire completed by participants at home.


METHODS
Ambulatory CHF clinic in a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Patients attending the clinic between July 1995 and May 1996 who agreed to participate. Control subjects were age- and gender-matched participants identified and approached by participating patients.


METHODS
Nonprescription therapies used at least once weekly.


RESULTS
Completed questionnaires were received from 180 (75%) of the 239 patients who agreed to participate and from 133 controls. Mean age of responding patients was 69 years (63% men). Controls were younger, with a mean age of 64 years (63% men). The most commonly used nonprescription medication categories for both patients and controls, with no significant intergroup differences, were vitamins and minerals (59% patients, 50% controls), pain relievers (48% and 43%, respectively), herbal or health food products (38% and 38%), antacids (26% and 28%), and laxatives (24% and 21%). Significantly fewer patients than controls used cough and cold products (9% vs. 17%; p < 0.05), specifically oral decongestants (0.6% vs. 5%; p < 0.01), and more patients than controls used nutritional supplements (17% vs. 4%; p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, use of nonprescription therapies by our CHF clinic patients is similar to that of an age- and gender-matched population without a self-reported heart condition. The differences in medication use observed between patients and controls included cough and cold products that might be harmful. This likely reflects appropriate caution with which CHF patients approach nonprescription therapies.
Regional Pharmacy Service, Capital Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
M L
ML
Ackman
J B
JB
Campbell
K A
KA
Buzak
R T
RT
Tsuyuki
T J
TJ
Montague
K K
KK
Teo
D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs