Use of biological based therapy in patients with cardiovascular diseases in a university-hospital in New York City.
BACKGROUND
The use of complementary and alternative products including Biological Based Therapy (BBT) has increased among patients with various medical illnesses and conditions. The studies assessing the prevalence of BBT use among patients with cardiovascular diseases are limited. Therefore, an evaluation of BBT in this patient population would be beneficial. This was a survey designed to determine the effects of demographics on the use of Biological Based Therapy (BBT) in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the education level on the use of BBT in cardiovascular patients. This survey also assessed the perceptions of users regarding the safety/efficacy of BBT, types of BBT used and potential BBT-drug interactions.


METHODS
The survey instrument was designed to assess the findings. Patients were interviewed from February 2001 to December 2002. 198 inpatients with cardiovascular diseases (94 BBT users and 104 non-users) in a university hospital were included in the study.


RESULTS
Users had a significantly higher level of education than non-users (college graduate: 28 [30%] versus 12 [12%], p = 0.003). Top 10 BBT products used were vitamin E [41(43.6%)], vitamin C [30(31.9%)], multivitamins [24(25.5%)], calcium [19(20.2%)], vitamin B complex [17(18.1%)], fish oil [12(12.8%)], coenzyme Q10 [11(11.7%)], glucosamine [10(10.6%)], magnesium [8(8.5%)] and vitamin D [6(6.4%)]. Sixty percent of users' physicians knew of the BBT use. Compared to non-users, users believed BBT to be safer (p < 0.001) and more effective (p < 0.001) than prescription drugs. Forty-two potential drug-BBT interactions were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence of use of BBT in cardiovascular patients is high (47.5%), as is the risk of potential drug interaction. Health care providers need to monitor BBT use in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Chagan
Larisa
L
Division of Pharmacy Practice, Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York, USA. lchagan@aol.com
Bernstein
Diane
D
Cheng
Judy W M
JW
Kirschenbaum
Harold L
HL
Rozenfeld
Vitalina
V
Caliendo
Gina C
GC
Meyer
Joanne
J
Mehl
Bernard
B
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002300:Cardiac Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D004232:Diuretics; D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins; D001241:Aspirin
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